Skate park ready for action

Safety inspectors have given the all-clear to a new £60,000 Market Drayton skate park. The new site, by the swimming centre at the bottom of Phoenix Bank, is now being used by skateboarders and BMX bikers and will be officially opened in the next two weeks.

Young people kick-started plans to bring the skate park to the town four years ago and the bulk of the work was finished by the contractors on Friday.

Market Drayton Town Council has driven forward the scheme. Nearby public toilets will also be opened as part of the scheme.

Today, town council clerk Edward Davies said the finishing touches were being done but the site was already being used and enjoyed by young people.

He said: "They finished the construction on Friday and they had an inspection to make sure it was OK and that was passed off.

"North Shropshire District Council is still doing some electrical work on the toilets and a small tarmacadam path needs to be put in from the loos to the skate park. We are looking at an official opening in the next two weeks and are just waiting to fix a date."

In 2002 about 80 pupils from the town's Grove School took part in a survey which showed skateboarding was their top hobby.

Youths also lobbied the town council, gave a presentation and went on site visits with councillors to other skate parks in the area to help move the project forward.

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