A LONG-AWAITED skatepark has been opened to the public in a popular play area in Yate following a £148k refurbishment.

The Witches Hat Play Area, opposite Yate Common on Westerleigh Road, was closed for four weeks to allow work to get under way after Yate Town Council raised the funds to give the public space a makeover and introduce skate-boarding facilities to the area.

Work began in March and the official opening took place on Friday, May 1, where crowds of visitors explored the refurbished equipment, but the skatepark was not finished or open to the public at that stage.

Yate councillors opened the skatepark on Friday, May 22, and now residents are already using the facilities and proving the money has been well-spent.

Cllr John Ford, vice chairman of Yate Town Council, said: “The refurbishment was possible because of the grant obtained by Yate Town Council.

“The residents of adjacent streets and young people were consulted by the council and worked with the councillors and architect to design a play and recreation area that would fulfil the requirements of all users.

“We would like to offer our thanks to Touchwood, the installers and Allison Brown the architect for their work and the local residents for their patience during the construction period.”

The refurbishment of the play area was suggested after the council commissioned a youth survey in 2013, and discovered one of the strongest desires for young people was for additional wheels play facilities, including skate boarding, BMX and scooters.

As well as the concrete skating area, the play area’s new features include "nature play" specialist climbing and rope structures, a trampoline, a Witches Hat climbing frame and a new shelter.

The total cost of the development was about £148k and the council secured £100k of funding from South Gloucestershire Council from the New Homes Bonus, with the remainder coming from other sources.