Work on Llandrindod Wells's long-awaited new skateboard park gets under way

Work on Llandrindod Wells’s long-awaited new skatepark has begun.

The work is expected to take about 18 weeks and it will provide an exciting new facility for the town, its residents and visitors.

Over £550,000 full grant funding has been received to build the new skate park on Princes Avenue.

Llandrindod Wells Town Council said it is hoped the skate park will be the biggest and best in the area.

The project will be managed by the town clerk in conjunction with Canvas Spaces.

The skate park committee was formed some time ago to work on plans for a new skate park for the town.

The committee was made up of town council members, former Dod Town Extreme representatives and representatives from Llandrindod’s Ready to Roll. County councillor Pete Roberts was also a member in the early days.

In order to obtain the significant funding for this project, lots of work was carried out by the town clerk Jane Johnston with the support of Resources for Change who put together concise and competitive bids to three funding sources.

Unfortunately, the Community Ownership Fund was ceased without warning prior to the last general election which left the council with a dilemma and a significant funding gap.

The council and committee finally obtained funding from the National Lottery People and Places Fund and the Transforming Towns Mid Wales Fund totalling over £550,000.

The town council has ring-fenced money within its budget for the past three years to commit to this project.

Llandrindod Wells mayor and chairman Councillor Steve Deeks-D’Silva said: “After a long wait, it is brilliant to see the project finally moving forward.

“It is a massive milestone for the town and local area.

“This is exciting news for the whole community and a major step towards something positive, lasting, and long overdue.

“When it's completed I believe it will be one of the best in Wales and a great benefit to the town for residents and visitors alike.”

Planning permission for a replacement skate park was approved just before Christmas 2024, after three years of determined work.

The reinforced concrete park will replace the current old steel and timber half pipe facility on Princes Avenue, which was installed in the early 2000s and is a well-used facility.

The current park has had multiple repairs throughout the years and is now nearing the end of its life. Its design is also outdated and does not fit for the modern style of skateboarding, scootering, rollerblading and BMXing.

The new skate park has been designed to have a range of low- to high-level ramps to aid in incremental skill progression, along with a wide range of obstacle styles from street/plaza and a variety of transitions so all riding disciplines are accounted for and everyone can enjoy the skatepark no matter what they like to ride or their skill level.

The hardstanding area of the new skatepark will be approximately 817 square metres and has been designed to accommodate approximately eight to 10 users moving simultaneously.

The council was told at a meeting this week that the old ramp has been offered externally, but will be removed by a local contractor for recycling by the end of the week.