A CAMPAIGN to restore an iconic ‘half-pipe’ at a North Yorkshire skatepark has shone a local, national and international spotlight on years of neglect.

#RescueTheRamp, spearheaded by local celebrity and keen skater, Ryan Swain, is calling on Norton Town Council to save the ramp, and will present its proposals to a meeting on May 17.

Mr Swain said: “The half-pipe in Norton is the only free to use piece of skate equipment of its size in the North of England and when it was in a useable condition it attracted skaters from all over the country.

“Our campaign group wants to see this happen again, and we have pledges of support from internationally renown skaters, such as Tony Hawk and Amelia Brodka, plus local organisations including North Yorkshire Sport and North Yorkshire Youth.

“We have put together a plan which will see us working with local contractors to refurbish the half-pipe at costs that will be far lower than the huge sums that are being quoted by the town council for the work.

“There is a huge wave of support to get the half-pipe back in action and we are calling on Norton town council to listen to the local community on this issue and agree to the work being carried out as soon as possible.”Malton and Norton Area Partnership chair Martin Brampton also supports the scheme.

The half-pipe was originally brought to Norton from Alton Towers, where it had been used as a display unit for skateboarding. In recent years, despite funds being spent on the rest of the equipment on the park, the half pipe has been neglected, fenced off and abandoned, leaving it in a very poor state of repair.

However a recent report by safety experts, charity ROSPA, said it could be repaired and stressed that providing skate parks is the best and safest option for local enthusiasts.

Councillor Di Keal, who is supporting the bid to save the ramp said:

“The council claim that the half-pipe is too expensive to repair and question its safety, but in reality, with support from local businesses, it can be repaired at a reasonable cost and there is commitment in the community to make this happen.

“Virtually all sports include an element of risk, from playing rugby to cricket, cycling or mountaineering and up and down the country people take part in these activities safely week on week – players do so at their own risk and part of the excitement of some activities is that risk. During its use in Norton there is no evidence of any serious injuries having taken place on the half-pipe.

“And as Ryan has repeatedly pointed out, once fully and properly repaired, only skilled skaters would be able to use the half-pipe due to its construction. Younger skaters hone their skills on the smaller equipment, then move on to the half-pipe once they have the skill to do so.

“As we come out of lockdown, young people need to get out, meet friends and take part in physical exercise, having spent many months behind computer screens or on their phones, and as a council we have a responsibility to provide the facilities that they want to enjoy.”