A SKATE park in Greater Leys is set to get new equipment by the end of the summer, officials have said.

The skate park in Fry’s Hill Park should have its long-awaited additions installed in September, Oxford City Council says.

In 2009 the estate’s old skate park was bulldozed to make way for a Co-op nursery in Cuddesdon Way.

The Co-op gave the council £60,000 in Section 106 money to build a replacement park.

It took more than two years before it was completed in October 2012.

At the end of 2012, Blackbird Leys Parish Council set aside £5,000 to help charity Groundworks Thames Valley – contracted to build the project by the city council – add more to the park, such as rails and ledges.

The official opening was put off until the work was finished, but the additional work did take place.

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Parish council chairman Gordon Roper, above, said: “When I spoke to the young lads who were there they said they wanted more rails and things.

“The skate park wasn’t really what everybody expected once it was built, but it’s adequate to a certain degree.”

The parish council agreed to spend a section of their annual £30,000 budget to add to the park.

Mr Roper added: “We set aside Groundworks £5,000 for more equipment 18 months ago and we’re still waiting.

“Nobody seems to be doing anything.

“Obviously we’ll be disappointed if it’s not done. The cheque’s waiting to be paid.”

But, speaking for Groundworks, city council spokeswoman Louisa Dean said: “Consultation has been carried out with the young skaters who use the existing facilities and details submitted to the skate park specialists for costing.

“It is hoped the new additions can be installed on site in early September.’’ One of the skaters who uses the park, James Needham, from Headington, said: “It could do with more there.

“There’s a whole load of space they could use to expand it.”

The 25-year-old, who helps run skateboarding lessons for teenagers at the park, added: “Some ledges and blocks and rails around the sides would be great.”

“Anything that invests in skating is great by me.”

 

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