A Cornwall skate park project has received a huge boost after being awarded a grant of £50,000 towards its construction.
Members of the Lostwithiel Skate Park Project have been working around the clock to replace the town's former wooden ramp that was removed last year due to its dilapidated state.
With Lostwithiel Town Council now securing the substantial grant from the Sport England, Inspired Facilities fund, the future for the skaters and riders young and old from the town is looking considerably brighter.
Lostwithiel Mayor, Gillian Parsons said: "We are delighted to have secured this investment, which means we can provide this much needed facility for Lostwithiel."The Town Council is very grateful to all organisations and individuals who have generously donated their time and financial support to the project."
Mrs Parsons highlighted the enthusiastic support the project had received from the local community declaring it a "credit to Lostwithiel."
The plans for a modern new concrete multi-purpose skate park have already been drawn up and mulled over by members of the community and the project group itself and this grant award will enable the plans to gather some serious steam.
Jan Phillips, Clay Country Greenspaces development project manager, has been at the centre of the Lostwithiel Skate Park Project and believes this award is a massive show of confidence in the project and an enormously important step towards its realisation."This recognises the enormous amount of support that the project has from the whole Lostwithiel community," she said, "I am delighted to see the way the town has rallied behind the skatepark idea."Apart from the core project group, there has developed a small army of residents, under 18s, PCSOs, parents, businesses, charitable organisations and others who have made donations of money or time in kind.
Through a variety of fund raising activities and donations the local total raised has reached over £20,000 so far, but Mrs Phillips said there is still work to be done."There is still a need to raise money from another grant to complete the main fundraising," she added, "and to get the design submissions to a point where the Town Council can apply for planning permission."But this work is also well on the way and everything is looking very positive at the moment. Well done guys!"The project group also thanks Sport England from the bottom of its collective heart."
Lostwithiel new Skate Park is one of 310 projects across England to receive lottery investment from the third round of the Inspired Facilities fund.
Richard Lewis, chair of Sport England, said: "This National Lottery investment is helping us deliver a lasting sporting legacy in Cornwall from last year's successful Olympic and Paralympic Games."With so many clubs in the South West having benefitted from this fund already and building on the success of last summer, this is the legacy people want for their local community."
The new Lostwithiel skate park will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark to celebrate its link to the Games."The Council would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all the hard work involved in the preparation of the Town Council's bid for funding," added Mrs Parsons, "particularly Jan Phillips of Groundworks South, the Friends of Lostwithiel Skate Park, the Lostwithiel Forum and PCSO Natalie Phillips."
↧