CAMPAIGNERS are jumping with joy after Aberystwyth Town Council won a bid for a £440,000 grant to revamp the run-down skatepark.

Councillors invited a group of skaters to a meeting of Aberystwyth Town Council on Monday, 24 October, to inform them the council’s application for a grant from the Big Lottery Fund to renovate the park in Boulevard St Brieuc had been successful.

Josh Thompson, who started the ‘Aberystwyth Skate Park Revamp’ Facebook page due to the “dangerous” state of the current facility, said: “This is the most amazing outcome for Aberystwyth, and will help the talent progress from this town and surrounding areas.”

His friend Hendrix Haskell added: “It is great news for the town itself and for the skating community.

“It’ll be a superb addition for the entrance of the town and will definitely look more appealing to visitors and locals.”

At the meeting, councillors voted unanimously to commit £72,500 of match-funding to the skatepark, which one councillor said would offer “something for everyone”, including a “state of the art” skatepark, a children’s play area, benches and a picnic area.

Cllr Mererid Jones, who led the council’s application for funding, said: “The Big Lottery Fund grant of £439,039 will be spent on developing a park that offers something for everyone, and for all areas of Aberystwyth — being centrally located between the town centre, Penparcau, Llanbadarn and Trefechan.

“As a result of extensive consultation, the new park will offer a state-of-the-art skatepark, but will also include a play area for young children, footpaths, seating and picnic areas for all ages in an extended area up towards the police station and beyond the existing skatepark.

“The natural habitat will be enhanced with trees planted and views of the river opened up. It will be a lovely amenity area and will enhance the gateway into Aberystwyth.”

The council said that the aim is for work to begin sometime in November and to be completed by next summer.

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