Looe Skate Park

FAQs

Who is it for? - "It's only for skaters" - Not true. Skate parks are used by BMX riders, scooter riders, wheelchair users and kids on bikes. A well-designed park becomes a social hub, not a niche facility.

Who will build it and why have they been selected? - Maverick Skateparks was founded in 2007 and based in Poole. They have built over 100 parks across the UK. They're a skater-run business specialising in spray concrete parks, and are well known in Cornwall — their projects range from St Ives to Scarborough, and they built the flagship Concrete Waves park in Newquay, which Newquay Town Council later commissioned them to extend in 2024. They have a strong track record of exactly the kind of community concrete park we're aiming to build.

Designed in consultation with Looe young residents to give them the skate experience they've always dreamed of, and with design elements inspired by banjo pier.

Why does it cost so much? - Concrete skateparks by builders like Maverick cost so much because they are custom civil engineering projects—not off-the-shelf playgrounds. Poured-in-Place Craftsmanship: Concrete parks aren't manufactured in a factory. They require skilled specialists, like those at Maverick Skateparks, to hand-shape and spray the concrete over carefully built steel armatures. Unlike metal or wooden ramps that require high annual maintenance and are prone to rust or warping, professional concrete parks last for decades with virtually zero upkeep. The price secures a safe, quiet, and highly durable community asset.

When will it be open? - Our goal is to raise the fund throughout 2026 so that build can commence in 2027. But that is 100% dependent on raising the funds.

Who will be responsible for the skate park? Looe Town Council

Why isn't the skate park next to the existing play area? - An earlier proposal to site the skate park adjacent to the existing play area behind the Millpool Car Park was carefully considered but ultimately not pursued — primarily due to noise pollution concerns after BS4142 Assessment. After a consensus that planning would be rejected on this basis, we established the new and current location.

The Millpool car park site solves this problem entirely. It sits within an active, open public space with natural distance from residential properties, good airflow, and the ambient noise of a working harbour — making it a far more appropriate and considerate location for everyone.

Crucially, this is exactly the kind of siting guidance recommended by national skate park design experts: the UK's first national audit of skate parks found that concrete parks positioned in well-considered, visible locations are strongly associated with quality and positive use, while poorly sited parks create problems for users and communities alike.

Millpool car park location isn't a compromise — it's the right location.

Why do we need a skate park? - Looe has a parish population of 5,311 (2021 Census). Its demographic is notably aged — 34% of residents are 65 or over, compared to a national average of 18.6%, and the median age is 48 versus a national median of 40. That might sound like an argument against a skate park — but it's actually the opposite. It means young people are a minority in their own town, with little provision designed for them, in a community dominated by older residents and seasonal tourism.

Cornwall projections show a gradual ageing trend, with net out-migration of younger people already occurring. Giving young people a reason to stay, feel valued, and be active is not just a nice idea — it's essential to the long-term health of the community.

"What about the tourists?" - Looe's economy depends on drawing visitors, particularly families. A skate park at Millpool gives visiting families with teenagers something to do that doesn't cost anything, and keeps kids occupied while parents explore the town — spending money in local shops, cafés and restaurants.

Why is it called "Edwina Hannaford Skate Park"? - Edwina Hannaford was a deeply respected local politician and long-serving councillor who was widely considered the "heart and soul" of Looe. She served the community for over two decades before passing away in early 2024 after a long illness. In December 2023, she was unanimously awarded the Honorary Freedom of the Town in recognition of her meritorious dedication to local residents, environmental initiatives, and the cultural preservation of Looe.

Edwina was the greatest champion of this project over many years. She worked behind the scenes to help secure the proposed site, moved things forward when they looked like they had stalled and gave a huge amount of encouragement to all involved. In recognition of her work, and the regard in which the town holds her memory, the decision was made to name the skate park after her.

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

"It's using up parking spaces in the car park" - NO. IT'S. NOT. With the knowledge that losing parking spaces would be seen as a negative point to this project, in 2023, Edwina Hannaford, while mayor of Looe, ensured that Millpool carpark was relined. This relining ensured that the 35 spaces in the area planned for the skate park, would not be lost. So there are actually currently 35 extra parking spaces until we can make this skate park dream a reality. The car park was already remodelled to factor in our skate park plan.

"It's a waste of money" - WRONG! - Once built, a concrete skate park is one of the cheapest community facilities to run. Annual maintenance for a concrete skate park typically runs between £1,000 and £3,000 — far less than a sports pitch, tennis court or leisure centre. It requires no staff, no heating, no booking system, and no subscriptions. It's open 365 days a year to anyone who turns up. Compare that to almost any other community facility and it's exceptional value per user.

"It'll attract trouble" - This is the most common objection — and the evidence points the other way. In Bude, just across the county, a local police officer made a public plea for somewhere for young people to go after antisocial behaviour incidents — and one of the town council's direct responses was to expand its skate park. The pattern is consistent: it's not skate parks that cause trouble, it's having nowhere to go.

A community safety officer from Safer Cornwall has noted there is "a massive issue with youth behaviour" across the county — and the solution being consistently proposed by police and councils alike is to give young people somewhere purposeful to be.

Looe Skate Park will give Looe's young people a place of their own.

Looe Skate Park will also be in a high footfall area, with CCTV and in direct view of the Looe police station.

"Young people should just play traditional sports" - Skateboard GB notes that skate parks are particularly valuable for reaching teenagers who are put off by team sports — a significant group who currently fall through the gaps of every other provision. For these young people, a skate park may be the only thing that gets them active, outdoors, and socialising.

Why does a skate park matter? - Scale of the issue — why this matters

Sport England's Active Lives survey found that only 47% of children and young people in England are classified as active. A free, accessible outdoor facility like a skate park directly addresses this.

Sport England's own research shows that every £1 spent on community sport and physical activity generates nearly £4 back for the English economy and society — including significant savings for health and social care.

Who's skating? — the numbers

Skateboard GB reports there are now over 750,000 skaters in the UK — a figure that has grown sharply since skateboarding became an Olympic sport.

In the UK, the Duke of Edinburgh Award recorded an 800% increase in girls and young women aged 14–24 registering skateboarding as their chosen activity between 2017 and 2022. This is not a niche pursuit.

Reaching those who don't do traditional sport

Skateboard GB notes that skateparks generate physical and mental health benefits particularly among those who might otherwise not be active at all — from introducing young children to sport playfully, to engaging teenagers who are put off by team sports, through to keeping people active throughout their lives. This is a critical point: skate parks reach a demographic that football pitches and leisure centres often don't.

The national audit — Sport England funded, 2025/26

The most comprehensive picture yet of UK skateboarding infrastructure was published in March 2026 — the first study of its kind in Europe — conducted by Goldsmiths, University of London in partnership with Skateboard GB and funded by Sport England. It found concrete skateparks in well-considered, visible locations are strongly associated with positive perceptions of quality and high usage.

We hope you have enjoyed this education. Now please DIG DEEP!