A new indoor skate park, scheduled to be ready in August, may not open because it cannot find public liability (PL) cover.
The skate park is being built in Telford, Shropshire by Sk8mental, a company that designs and builds skate parks. The project is being supported by Telford & Wrekin Council, which is working closely with Sk8mental.
Sk8mental managing director David Howse and Telford & Wrekin Council employee Derek Owen have contacted over 100 brokers and insurers in the past month to find PL cover. They have been turned down on every count. One insurer said it could provide cover if they proved a three-year no claims history but as the project is new, this is impossible.
"Our skate park will be safer than others, with a site monitor, safety equipment and ramp inspections," said Howse. "I even did a risk analysis that I sent to insurance companies and still had no response. They are all saying that after 11 September, no company wants to take on such a risk. The skate park is high risk, but we've not even had an offer."
A spokesman for Zurich Municipal, which insures some public skate parks, said that market conditions are particularly hard at the moment and everyone is tending to look at their books and be selective.
Owen said he believes the skate park will help reduce crime in the area by keeping young people occupied. "There is a knock-on effect here because crime pushes up insurance premiums," he said.
Derek Owen of Telford & Wrekin Council can be contacted on 01952 202408.
