Roll on the skate park

Buy photos » Kayne Lynas has worked tirelessly with the parish council to secure the skate park funding and has been one of the project’s biggest supporters from the outset. 25.012.019.rug.jm2

A SKATE park will be built in Binley Woods thanks to the efforts of a group of youngsters.

Paul Salisbury, chairman of the village's parish council, said he was pleased to be approached by teenagers who were keen to see more facilities for young people made available in the village.

Together, they pushed for funding for the project, and after landing a grant of £23,000 they are now getting ready to see the start of work on the new skate park on land off Craven Road.

Coun Salisbury said he was first approached last summer by teenagers responding to the parish council's calls for villagers to have their say on what they wanted to happen in Binley Woods.

He said: "I've tried to make myself approachable to the youngsters and it's great they've felt they could come and talk to me about what they wanted to see in the village.

"Since they asked I've had them coming round knocking on my door every six weeks or so just to ask how things are getting on. It's nice to involve them as there's not a lot for the kids to do once they get a bit older.

"Young people don't often get involved in parish council affairs so this has really pleased me.

"One day they'll be the ones looking after things around here so it's good to be able to involve them now, and it's nice to be able to give them something they can enjoy."

The location of the skate park has been carefully chosen so it is not too close to people's homes.

Grant funding worth £23,000 will come from the WREN biodiversity fund charity, with the parish council also helping towards the £35,000 cost.

The final details are being worked out, and it is hoped the skate park will be finished before the end of the school summer holidays.

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