News : Roundswell & Sticklepath

Work on a new skateboard park in the centre of Barnstaple is now a step closer to getting underway thanks to a group of local skaters.

Rock Park SK8 Committee, made up of young skateboarders, presented a cheque worth £32,500 to the Barnstaple, Fremington and Instow Area Committee at a meeting this month.

The group has been working closely with Devon Youth Service and North Devon Council on plans to build a skate park in Rock Park for almost four years and they successfully gained £32,500 funding for the scheme through the Government’s Youth Capital Fund.

The project received another boost when the Area Committee recommended that a further £160,000 be donated towards it. This money has been set aside from large developments to provide public space and outdoor facilities for the people of Barnstaple.

North Devon Council will be considering this recommendation during March, along with a proposal to allocate £80,000 from the Council’s Capital Budget to the scheme.

Works are expected to begin on the new skate park this summer and members of the Rock Park SK8 Committee will be involved in designing the layout and selecting different ramps to be included on the site.

Cllr Dick Jones, Chairman of Barnstaple, Fremington and Instow Area Committee says: “We would like to thank the SK8 Committee for their cheque, which will go towards developing the fantastic new skate park, and congratulate them on all their hard work.”

Cllr Mike Harrison, Leader of North Devon Council says: “The skate park in Rock Park will not only provide a great facility for young people in Barnstaple, but also the surrounding area and we are delighted that members of the SK8 Committee are involved in the project from the very start.”

Grant Edwards from Devon Youth Service says: “We would wish to congratulate the young people for their persistence and commitment over what is, for them, a long period of time. As major stakeholders in the project, they are looking forward to working with the District Council on the tendering process and then on design with the successful contractor.”

The project will cost approximately £300,000 and is funded by North Devon Council, Barnstaple Town Council, Devon Youth Service and the Barnstaple Sk8 Committee, Safer North Devon and the Bridge Trust.