Bikes OK, skateboards too noisy for Delancey

But if skateboards use it, this would have a much bigger impact.

The Velo Club submitted a planning application at the end of last year to convert the derelict tennis courts into a pump track feature, with a series of rollers and banks to encourage pumping rather than pedalling on the loop.

The plans were deferred in February so more information could be gathered.

A noise report on the site looks at the potential impact of bikes and skateboards.

The assessment considered a worst case, with six people using the track for 16 hours a day.

‘The results of the various scenarios indicate that even if the track is fully occupied with BMXs for all 16 hours of the day, while likely audible, the negative impact is thought to be negligible. Should the hours of operation or number of users reduce, so too would the adverse effects,’ the report stated.

However skateboards would be a bigger issue.

‘The results further conclude that the presence of even a small number of skateboards is likely to generate a negative impact,’ the report stated.

‘While the pump track is primarily designed for bicycles, it is recommended that skateboarders are deterred from using the space.’

The report also noted that the three tennis courts on the site were disused, so the team could not do an assessment on site, but a separate one showed that playing tennis there would be slightly noisier than the bikes.

However, again, skateboards would be noisier than tennis.

‘As the use of skateboards are expected to exceed target levels, we recommend considering a surface material that hinders the use of skateboards, such as a resin-bonded rubber flooring,’ the report stated.

‘To conclude, we are of the opinion that, when compared with the existing noise level at the time of our survey, the noise impact will be low when used only by BMXs with occasional raised voices.

‘This would be considered even less so if compared against the existing noise level when the tennis courts were operational. However, in any case, the risk of adverse impact is considered to rise with the presence of skateboard use.’

Currently the proposal is for a bitumen surface, although this could be changed.

The update to the planners also confirmed that while the project was being led by the Velo Club, it was a community one.

‘As such, it will be managed in the same way as any public space,’ a letter from DRP Architecture confirmed. ‘Early engagement from Guernsey Police has indicated they will support the opening in a similar manner to the Cambridge Park skate park.’

The letter also confirms that, like the rest of the park, there would not be controlled access to the track. But with no floodlighting, it would only be used during the day.

• The report can be viewed at gov.gg/liveplanningapplications.