A new skatepark built next to a cricket pitch will now need huge protective nets costing around £30,000 after planners realised a safety oversight could put users at risk from flying cricket balls. Independent assessments showed that well-hit shots from the adjacent field could easily clear the boundary and strike people using the skate ramps, prompting the council to act.
To address this, the council agreed to install a 15-metre-high net stretching roughly 40 metres around sections of the skatepark to shield skaters from dangerous errant balls.
Councillors reviewed several options, including relocating the cricket wicket, cancelling the season, or doing nothing and accepting the risk, before settling on the net as the most practical health and safety solution. One councillor emphasised that without such measures, even a single incident, such as a child being hit, could force the facility to close immediately.
There were concerns raised about ongoing maintenance costs and the potential for vandalism, and some residents questioned whether such high netting might itself pose hazards, for example, if people try to climb it. However, supporters argued the skatepark had strong community demand and needed to be safeguarded so it could open and remain available long-term.
This story reflects a growing emphasis on risk assessment and protective design in public play and activity spaces, balancing community demand for sport and recreation with safety obligations.
