THE fate of Canvey skate park could be decided today.

Veola North Thames Trust, which funds community, environmental and restoration projects near its tips, is due to decide whether to offer £114,000 towards repairing the park at Waterside Farm in Somnes Avenue.

Essex County Council has already offered £50,000 and Castle Point Council £36,000 towards the work.

The popular skate park will close unless money can be found to replace ramps and other structures which have started to corrode.

Tom Skipp, councillor responsible for environment and leisure, said: “It’s excellent news. I’m very pleased we have found funding.

“We have put in a bid for £114,000 to the Veola trust. They are meeting to decide whether the bid has been successful.

“Once we have funding in place, we can carry out the work.” BMX riders and skateboarders feared the park would close after council officers said it would be too complex or expensive to repair.

They believe the only longterm solution is to replace the ramps.

But they estimate it could cost between £150,000 and £500,000.

But campaigners still fear for the future of the park, as the council is relying on finding outside funds.

Grace Watson, Canvey Island Independent Party councillor for Canvey Island North, said: “What concerns me is the funding is ‘possible’ – it isn’t definite.

“If we can get funding, that’s all well and good, but if we can’t, are we going to complete the skateboard park, or is it going to be scrapped?

“I understand we have to apply for funding, but it’s vitally important to the kids in Castle Point that the park stays.

“It keeps them off the streets and stops them getting into trouble. It’s well-used and we need to keep it.”

Repairs costing £19,000 were carried out in 2012, but failed to prevent the corrosion.

The park is visited regularly by youngsters, who also use a neighbouring cafe, run by the Canvey Youth Project.

The park will be maintained using its existing maintenance budget while officers try to secure external funding.