We're ready to roll (From Gazette Series)

We're ready to roll

DURSLEY is set to have its own skatepark as a much-awaited project finally appears to be going ahead.

After more than a year of frustration, indecision and a general lack of progress, funding is now in place to proceed with the plans.

Stroud District Council has approved a £25,000 capital grant that will see the skatepark built.

Westbury Homes and Dursley Town Council will also be contributing to the project.

The skatepark will be on the town's Recreation Ground at the end of the field nearest to Rednock School.

District council spokesman Dave Marshall told the Gazette: "The skatepark should be open later this year."

The decision to go ahead with the project was rubber stamped at the town council on Tuesday evening.

In a committee meeting after main council business councillors agreed that they would have to finance the upkeep of the facility as it was on their land.

Originally the plan was for the district council to pay for both the installation and the maintenance of the skatepark because it was going to be built on land it owned at Highfields.

However, now that the skatepark is going to be constructed on the town council-owned Rec, it will not be the district council's to maintain.

The project is ready to start at any time, although no exact time scale has been indicated.

Town clerk Ann Leaney said: "It could go ahead very quickly. Stroud District Council is the project manager and they have already got the quotes for the work to be done.

"Now it is just a question of getting the contractors onto the site and ordering the equipment."

As at the recently completed skatepark at the Jubilee Field in Cam, the first phase of the process will be for the base and tarmac surface to be laid and some ramps to be installed.

The town council will then look to secure further funding so that additional ramps and half-pipes can be provided for users.