Parish councillors in the historic village, which is a tourism hot spot and is well-known for its selection of boutique shops, say acquiring extra space for parking on the perimeter is vital to improving the already creaking infrastructure.
But so limited are the options that after a year of negotiations with Northumberland County Council and local landowners, the only hope left is extending the existing Bridge End car park on the south side of Corbridge Bridge.
However, the quest for between 60 to 80 more spaces could lead to the loss of occupied allotment plots and the much-campaigned for village skateboard park. The park is said to be in a state of decay despite only being officially opened six years ago.
“We’ve reached a point with this where we realise we’re looking at the probable loss of the skateboard park,” chairman of Corbridge Parish Council, Coun. Maurice Hodgson, told the latest meeting last Wednesday.
“It’s in a sorry state at the moment so it could be a good time to relocate some kind of play equipment to a new site, like the middle school playing field.
Funded via a pot of money ring fenced for Corbridge by Northumberland County Council when the parish council opted to retain parking charges when free parking was introduced, the extension may also include space purchased from a local landowner.
Coun. Hodgson also pointed out that of the allotments which may be lost, some were badly damaged during the December floods, leaving allotment holders unsure about returning.
“In terms of replacing the skateboard park, it may be that some other play equipment may be more suitable now,” said Coun. Hodgson.
It is hoped the young people of Corbridge Youth Initiative might assist in a survey which would gauge opinion on replacement facilities.
A joint funding bid from the parish council, Corbridge Youth Initiative and the middle school was mooted as a possible way of covering the cost, as well as the Section 106 agreements linked to the recent housing developments by Taylor Wimpey at Cragside and Synclen Avenue.
Difficulty finding an appropriate site, lack of funds and a blunder which saw work carried out on the wrong piece of land, all contributed to years of delays on completing the existing skateboard park, which was eventually completed in 2010.
Long-serving parish councillor, David Walton, reminded the meeting that a section of the middle school playing field was often unavailable during the winter due to poor drainage.
Coun. Gillian Dickinson said: “I was a school governor first time around with the skateboard park and I remember a lot of people objected to it being at the middle school at that time.”
County council engineers are currently preparing draft proposals for the options and costs of extending the Bridge End car park site while a meeting is planned for September to discuss the middle school as a potential new play equipment site.
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