7:00pm Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Sarah Calkin
Canvey’S skate park has been given a revamp and expansion, costing £226,000.
The facility, on land behind Waterside Farm leisure centre, is now the biggest of its kind in Essex. It started with a single ramp in 2000, and today it has 12 different pieces of equipment.
Castle Point mayor Cliff Brunt and Canvey councillors Ray Howard and John Anderson joined young skaters to launch the new facility, which youngsters helped to design.
They have both been involved in the project since the idea was first discussed ten years ago as part of the Canvey 2000 regeneration project.
Back then skateboarders were constantly causing a nuisance outside Barclays Bank and Canvey library in the island’s town centre.
Mr Anderson, a town and borough councillor, is pleased to see it finally reopen following various problems.
He said: “It’s a terrific facility for the area, especially for Canvey. which really needs facilities for young people.
“At first the problem was getting the finances together. Once that was sorted and work started, a problem arose with youngsters using the toilets at the leisure centre and it was decided they needed their own toilet facilities.
“Things stalled for months, but then I suggested using the old caretaker’s bungalow.”
The bungalow has now been transformed into a cafe with toilets which is part of the skatepark project.
Benfleet-based youth group Legacy XS provide youth workers to staff the cafe where youngsters can train for an NVQ in catering.
The majority of the funding came from Veolia Cleanaway Pitsea Marshes Trust with contributions from Essex County Council, Castle Point Council and Canvey Town Council.
Speaking at the launch Ray Howard, who is a member of the trust and a councillor on all three councils, said: “I am, like lots of other people here today, extremely proud to participate in the opening of what has been stated as the largest skate park in Essex. The young people who use it appreciate the tremendous amount of effort that has gone into this.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/trade_directory/