Students deliver wheelie good presentation to Mark Hoban, MP
Categories: College News
On Friday 14th October, Mark Hoban MP visited the college and met with a group of students about the possibility of altering the current BMX facilities at Abshott, Titchfield and converting the site into an area which is designed for more multi-purpose activities, with the primary focus being particularly skatepark facilities.
Local boy, Jake Houghton led the initiative and was supported by his friends Aaron Shrimpton, Alistair Wilkins, James White, Joshua Madeley, Ryan Lewis and Matthew Dovan. The energetic team researched, prepared and delivered an impressive presentation to Mark Hoban MP which evaluated the current site in Titchfield. As part of their proposal the students highlighted the limitations of the current park, identified other sites in the surrounding area and recommended possible steps that could be taken to improve their facilities in a cost effective way.
Keen to ride and develop their skateboard, scooter and BMX techniques the group are primarily looking for a smoother, curvier surface with a range of ramps which can be used by the wider community. Each of the boys had prepared an overview of other local sites and presented a detailed analysis of the materials used, usage and provided Mark Hoban with a variety of measurements and statistics and even presented a range of pipes and ramps that could be used. Joshua Madeley introduced the site at Park Lane as a good example, Alistair Wilkins highlighted the benefits of a metal surface as per the site at Blackbrook Skate Park and Ryan Lewis showed pictures of Locks Heath Park and described the way in which the mini ramps are effectively used. Overall, the boys would relish a site such as the highly popular Southsea skatepark or Stubbington Skatepark.
Passionate about their hobby, the boys even offered to take on the role of litter monitors should their proposal go ahead and they suggested the value of incorporating additional facilities such as recycling bins and security cameras to keep a proposed site clean and safe.
Mark Hoban MP remarked: “I thought the boys did a first class job explaining how the Abshott BMX facilities could be improved for scooters and skateboards. If the council was able to do this, it would give the boys a safer place to skate or scooter.”
Clearly impressed by the boys enthusiasm and hard work in preparing for his visit, Mark Hoban congratulated the team on their excellent proposal and asked them to map out the minimal changes that would need to be made to make Abshott a multipurpose site for a reasonable cost. He then offered to take their proposal forward to Councillor Connie Hockley.
Principal Phil Munday said: “I am extremely proud of our students and the way they have taken the initiative to directly present their proposal to Mark Hoban, MP and the decision makers within the wider community. We recognise the value of offering young people practical, hands-on experience as well as classroom learning and support and mentor them to engage with society.”