Information on Loughborough

GET YOUR SKATES ON!

Posted on 27/07/2010
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Charnwood Borough Council is replacing the skatepark at Southfields Park at a cost of £178,500, as it is old, inadequate and regularly needs repairing.

This is the culmination of three year’s consultation and fund raising by Charnwood Borough Council and the Loughborough Skatepark Association.

The Loughborough Skatepark project has been funded by The Veolia Environmental Trust, which has awarded £70,000 through the Landfill Communities Fund; Community Spaces programme, which has awarded £49,950; and Section 106 Contributions.

The Veolia Environmental Trust was established in 1997 under the Landfill Communities Fund. It supports a wide range of community and environmental projects throughout the UK.

The Community Spaces grants programme is being managed by Groundwork UK as an Award Partner to the Big Lottery Fund. Community Spaces is part of the Big Lottery Changing Spaces Initiative.

The new concrete skatepark has been designed by Freestyle Skateparks together with the Loughborough Skatepark Association. Work is due to commence on 16 August and will last for about 10 weeks.

Councillor Peter Lewis, Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “Thanks to all our funding partners, due to their joint effort a new skatepark at Southfields Park will be created for the local community to enjoy.”

Julian Holt, Chairman of the Loughborough Skatepark Association, said: “After the hard work put in over the previous years by all concerned, it's great to see the project coming to fruition. Loughborough sorely needs this facility and I look forward to sampling the concrete myself on a regular basis.”

The Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Margaret Cobbold, adds,

‘It is one of our priorities to assist schemes providing play and leisure facilities for young people. This exciting project will have many benefits and I look forward to seeing the completed skatepark being enjoyed.’

Wendy Jenkins, Director of Open Grants at Groundwork UK said, “We are thrilled to be able to fund a new and improved skatepark in Loughborough – we know what a huge difference these spaces make to local people and are looking forward to visiting the finished site.”