YOUNG skaters have been given the chance to choose the contractor who will construct and install their new skateboard park, one of Emsworth Community Board's Liveability projects.

Plans for the new £90,000 facility, which is being funded by the council's £3.7M Liveability project and by the Government Office South East, were put together following extensive discussions with a group of young people who will be using the skateboard park. Designs for the scheme, which will be installed in Jubilee Park, include a 1.5M high quarter pipe, a 1.5M high half pipe, a 4.8M wide jump box, a fun box with a grind block and pyramid box, a flat bank and a manual box.

As well as talking to young skaters, consultation was also carried out with nearby residents and other users of Jubilee Park.

"The skateboard park was originally put forward by the community board as one of our projects because there is very little for teenagers to do in Emsworth and we realised that the Liveability project was a perfect opportunity to put that right," said Chairman of the board, Councillor Virginia Wilson-Smith. "It was wonderful to see the expressions of joy on the young people's faces as they were given the chance to chose the contractor who will now be making their designs for their skateboard park into a reality."

The scheme was put out to tender and narrowed down to two contractors, Bendcrete Skate Ramps and Fawns Recreational Services, whose schemes both fitted the requirements of the young skaters. They presented their detailed technical designs to an audience of 22 young skaters at Emsworth Bowling Club Pavilion on 22 September, at an evening hosted by the bowling club.

With Leader of Havant Borough Council, David Gillett, acting as returning officer, the young people voted 19 to three in favour of the scheme from Bendcrete Skate Ramps. Interested adults including residents and other users of the park also agreed that Bendcrete was the preferred choice, although the formal decision was entirely down to the young skaters.

WThe work is now complete and the skate park was official opened on Saturday 15th July

Photos on this page courtesy John Tweddell