A £110,000 skatepark on Canvey is set to be given the go-ahead by council chiefs.

Once the green light has been given it is hoped the park, on land by Waterside Farm sports centre, will be built within a year.

Regeneration group Canvey 2000, Essex Police and Essex County Council's youth service are behind the ambitious plans and want to link up with the borough council.

Chris Moran, Castle Point's head of leisure services, said: "Officers have recently had a site visit at the rear of Waterside Farm sports centre with the project partners and a group of young people to determine the location for the skatepark and discuss the layout.

"It is proposed that the area of the disused cycle speedway club be used as it is ideal in terms of access and size."

He said he felt the scheme supported the council's crime reduction strategy as it positively addresses the lack of skateboarding facilities within the borough and give youngsters somewhere to go.

Members of Canvey 2000 went to Harwich on a fact-finding trip as the local council there had built a skatepark for its youngsters.

Mr Moran added: "Given the success of the Harwich scheme it is recommended that this model be adopted for the Castle Point project."

Published Friday, May 16, 2003

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