Shropshire Council have now officially confirmed long-held plans to build a skate park in Whitchurch will start in spring.

The park has been mooted for the last decade but neither Shropshire or Whitchurch Town Council have been able to raise funds, but now they are in place, the project will be managed by Red Kite Network Limited.

Gerald Dakin, a long-time supporter of the plans and a Shropshire councillor, is delighted plans are finally moving forward.

“A skate park in Whitchurch has been talked about for many years and I’m sure many people thought it would never happen,” he said.

“A working group was formed about two years ago to resurrect the project, and over the course of this time we have consulted with young people, applied for funding and spoken to various groups about how they might be able to support this project.”

Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and leisure, added: “Whitchurch’s skate park is going to be a fantastic new facility for young people in the town and surrounding area.

“The working group have worked tirelessly over the past couple of years to get the funding in place. We know this is something the people of Whitchurch have wanted for a long time and it’s good to see that all that work has now paid off and Whitchurch will finally get a skate park.

“It’s great that so many people want to get involved with skateboarding and BMXing, and I can only see this interest increasing given that they are both Olympic sports.”

The funding for this project has been obtained from Shropshire Council (Section 106), Whitchurch Town Council (Neighbourhood Fund) and Next Generation Youth.

The construction will start in spring 2018 and it should take about six to eight weeks to build. It is hoped that construction will be completed by Friday, May 25. An opening celebration is planned for early summer 2018.

For further information about the event please contact Sean McCarthy, Shropshire Council’s sports development officer: sean.mccarthy@shropshire.gov.uk or 01743 255933.