Five Bridges skate park closure
An urgent closure has been put in place for the Five Bridges skate park which sits below the A167 Gateshead Highway flyover.
A survey of the flyover structure has found significant areas of concrete were loose directly above the skate park, and Gateshead Council officers have moved quickly to close the skate park to prevent harm to the public.
The areas above the roundabout and walkways in the area have also been surveyed but found to be safe for the public to continue using.
The whole flyover structure will continue to be monitored on a regular basis, as the council makes preparations for demolition to begin.
The Five Bridges skate park has been a popular skating facility for many years, and work has been ongoing to find a replacement location for skaters, when demolition work on the flyover begins.
This project has now been accelerated, following the decision to close Five Bridges earlier than first planned.
The existing skate park will be fenced off, and equipment removed where possible.
Neil Wilkinson, interim Service Director Climate Change, Compliance, Planning and Transport, said it was unfortunate the closure of the skate park was necessary, but public safety has to be the council's top priority. He said:
"Ever since we closed the flyover in December last year, we have known that the skate park needed to be closely monitored to ensure users' safety.
"Then when the Cabinet decided in March to approve the demolition of the flyover structure, we began work on finding a new location for skaters locally - while continuing to keep a close eye on the concrete above the skate park.
"Now action has to be taken to prevent any potential for harm, and we will keep talking to skaters locally about finding them a new home."
An urgent closure has been put in place for the Five Bridges skate park which sits below the A167 Gateshead Highway flyover.
A survey of the flyover structure has found significant areas of concrete were loose directly above the skate park, and Gateshead Council officers have moved quickly to close the skate park to prevent harm to the public.
The areas above the roundabout and walkways in the area have also been surveyed but found to be safe for the public to continue using.
The whole flyover structure will continue to be monitored on a regular basis, as the council makes preparations for demolition to begin.
The Five Bridges skate park has been a popular skating facility for many years, and work has been ongoing to find a replacement location for skaters, when demolition work on the flyover begins.
This project has now been accelerated, following the decision to close Five Bridges earlier than first planned.
The existing skate park will be fenced off, and equipment removed where possible.
Neil Wilkinson, interim Service Director Climate Change, Compliance, Planning and Transport, said it was unfortunate the closure of the skate park was necessary, but public safety has to be the council's top priority. He said:
"Ever since we closed the flyover in December last year, we have known that the skate park needed to be closely monitored to ensure users' safety.
"Then when the Cabinet decided in March to approve the demolition of the flyover structure, we began work on finding a new location for skaters locally - while continuing to keep a close eye on the concrete above the skate park.
"Now action has to be taken to prevent any potential for harm, and we will keep talking to skaters locally about finding them a new home."
