A SKATEPARK is set to finally be built in Whitchurch after a contractor was awarded the rights to build following years of hard work by councillors.

Canvas Spaces Limited, a company which specialises in building concrete skate parks, won the tender following a bid last month and will start work in April.

The park will be built in Jubilee Park and Shropshire councillor Gerald Dakin, who has worked alongside current Whitchurch Town Council clerk Nicola Young on securing funding, is delighted.

"This is something which I have been campaigning for a long time," said Councillor Dakin, for Whitchurch South.

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

"I’m so pleased for the skaters, scooters and BMXers of Whitchurch that they will finally have a facility in their town."

Over the last 10 years Shropshire Council, Whitchurch Town Council and many others have been talking the possibility of having a skate park in Whitchurch.

The main stumbling block during this time has always been a lack of funding and identifying a suitable site.

Work to build the skate park, which is expected to cost around £80,000, will take between six and eight months.

Councillor Tony Neville, Whitchurch mayor, added: "Whitchurch Town Council are excited that the young people are finally going to get their skate park.

"Having worked with Shropshire Council over the past four years to secure the site and funding, we are now looking forward to the build process and the opening, and to finally see the park being used."

Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for culture and leisure, said: "We are really pleased with the design and are confident this is what young people and skaters want. Canvas is an excellent, experienced company."

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