The Veolia Environmental Trust have generously awarded Winchester City Council a grant of £100,000 through the Landfill Communities Fund to fund the new skate park on North Walls Recreation Ground, as the existing skate park on the site is worn out and needs replacing.
The new concrete one is expected to incorporate several features popular with BMX bikers, skateboarders, rollerbladers and scooter riders. The work will be undertaken as part of the city council's wider plan to overhaul the park's play and leisure facilities.
This grant is one of 42 awarded by Veolia, and means that in the last five years they have awarded over £1.7 million to community and environmental projects in Hampshire.
Now that the grant has been awarded, their project manager will work with the city council to confirm the scheme's detail and draft the required documents so that work can start as soon as possible.
Speaking about the awarding of the funding, outdoor recreation officer, Susan Lord, says, "This is great news for our project. The grant is very welcome and we look forward to working with the Trust team to ensure our plans become real and benefit the young people of Winchester."
Steve Brine MP says, "I first met Steve Willoughby, who led the campaign on behalf of skaters, way back in 2010, when we spent a very cold morning on site. His dedication to taking this to Winchester City Council has been superb and a real model of how to realise a community dream. I am delighted they have now been backed by this very generous grant from The Veolia Environmental Trust which speaks volumes for their community values."
The Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Paul Taylor, adds, "This grant is a great example of how the Trust and the Landfill Communities Fund make a real difference to communities of all types across the UK. Every project is important to us and we look forward to seeing work start and the new skate park take shape."
Pictured (top); Steve Brine met Steve Willoughby on site back in 2010 and watch a short-film from Steve Brine TV that first meeting via the portal above.
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