Skate park dream glides into view (From The Advertiser Series)

Skate park dream glides into view

1:23pm Thursday 4th February 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share

YOUNGSTERS who launched a campaign for a skate park to be built in their town are getting closer to realising their dream.

A group of skaters and bikers, calling themselves the Wheels Crew, have been calling for a facility in Chilton since 2008.

And after winning public support and demonstrating demand for the park, cash for the £210,000 project for skate boards, roller blades and bikes is starting to fall into place.

Brian Avery and Christine Potts, Durham county councillors for Chilton, have each pledged their £25,000 fund for local initiatives towards the park.

And a further £26,000 will come from the Four Together Area Action Partnership, representing Ferryhill, Chilton, Cornforth and Bishop Middleham.

People at the AAP forum in December voted to support the skate park scheme with unallocated money from its £150,000 projects budget.

Margaret Taylor, chairman of Chilton West Residents Association, said: “Everybody has been great and the community has really got behind the idea.

“It’s a long haul but working together we’re getting closer and it is great not only for the young people, but all of Chilton.”

Project leaders had applied to the AAP for £40,000 so will ask for the remaining money from next year’s budget. They also hope to secure a Lottery grant to hire professionals to develop the facility and attract extra funding.

The cash already secured or applied for should be enough to start work on the development at the Charlie Wayman Football Fields.

Youngsters, who regularly cycle to Coxhoe to use a park there, first called for the park about two years ago when they asked the residents association for help.

Within a few hours they had gathered 100 names on a petition of support.

They went on to secure a grant to fund mobile skate park sessions which were well used and proved the demand for the facility.

• Print
• Email
• Share