Teen skaters can't wait for park opening (From Echo)

Teen skaters can't wait for park opening

4:10am Thursday 3rd July 2008 in News By Alex McNally

TEENAGERS have flocked to a new skate park in Leigh, weeks before its official opening.

The park, on Leigh Marshes, has seen hundreds of skaters and bikers take to the slopes.

Leigh Town Council paid for the concrete ramps to be put up and was hoping to hold an official opening at the end of July.

But with the park now complete, youngsters could not wait.

Skater Brett Elliott, 16, from Leigh, said the park was great news for teenagers.

He said: "It means we can come here and not cause a nuisance anywhere else. Before this we were skating in other places and it was annoying people."

Jim Goldring, 17, also from Leigh, added: "The park is a good place to meet your mates. It is good to be a kid while you still can. You don't have to skate, there are other things you can do here as well."

Town councillor Peter Dolby said: "We re obviously looking forward to the official opening but we are also delighted that kids are enjoying themselves already.

"We've had marvellous feedback from youngsters, skateboard shops and people that use skateparks.

"It is for Leigh and Southend but it proves it is a good thing because kids are coming from Grays, Tilbury and Basildon too."

Funding for the park also came from a lottery grant and Southend Council.