Mayor of Kenilworth Cllr Richard Dickson has urged the town's MP to 'use his influence' to resolve the ongoing uncertainty regarding use of the skatepark at Castle Farm.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the Government's roadmap for ending lockdown restrictions last Monday, stating that outdoor sports facilities would be allowed to reopen from March 29.

There was however, no definitive reference as to whether this would include skateparks.

As such, it remains unclear whether Kenilworth's skatepark at Castle Farm will reopen to the public, with the mayor calling for the town's MP Jeremy Wright to help bring a conclusion to the matter.

Cllr Dickson said: "Sadly, however, whilst there have been announcements about golf and other outdoor sports, there has not been any announcement yet made skateboarding. As a result access to the skatepark at Castle Farm is still not possible even though access to children's playgrounds is open.

"Skateboarding is an Olympic sport and is very popular amongst young people. In Kenilworth we have a well-used skatepark at Castle Farm which was established more than 15 years ago thanks to a huge community effort at the time.

"Skateboarding allows young people to get exercise and helps with both their physical and mental health.

"Local police have obviously had to respond when young people have been using the skatepark at Castle Farm and have done so in an appropriately sensitive way.

"In the absence of access to the Castle Farm skatepark young people who wish to skateboard will resort to using public spaces such as Abbey End, Talisman Square and Waitrose carpark which is unsafe both for them and for other local residents, as well as potentially damaging to street furniture and vehicles."

Cllr Dickson has also spoken to Skateboard GB, the governing body for skateboarding, which advised that discussions with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport over the past fortnight had still not brought any clarity.

He continued: "I have also written to our MP, Jeremy Wright and a former Secretary of State at DCMS, to urge him to use his influence with government colleagues to resolve this matter as soon as possible.

"I would urge other local residents who wish to see the skatepark reopened to do the same."

Cllr Dickson's comments come just days after Warwickshire Police has had to reminded residents that the skatepark at Castle Farm is not available for use.

A statement on social media by Kenilworth and Warwick Rural Police said: "Polite reminder, skateparks are not currently open.

"We have moved on around 40-50 people using it today, a lot of which were children. There was fencing around Castle Farm which will be put back up.

"Parents, we ask that you don't drop your children off to these places as they should not be being used."