£4 million funding bid for memorial skatepark

8:30pm Friday 4th July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

PLANS to create a world-class indoor skatepark and youth cafe in Malvern could become a reality as organisers prepare to apply for funding of nearly £4 million.

The TG’s Project was founded in 2004 in memory of Tim Greenwood, a Malvern skater who died of leukaemia. It was launched by Parkside Church Youth Group where he was a member.

Organisers are applying for a grant of £3,845,000 from the Government’s Myplace fund.They are working on the project with Worcestershire Cou-nty Council’s youth service and hope to site the skatepark on land off Townsend Way, currently occupied by a disused BMX track.

Project spokesman John Tinnion said: “This is a major step forward for us. Malvern has a lot of good things but there’s always been a lack of things for young people to do.

“What we’re proposing is a state-of-the-art, world-class skate centre. It will be one of the best in the UK.”

The centre will include a competition-standard indoor skating rink for BMX bikes, skateboarding, roller-blading and similar sports.

There will also be outdoor skating facilities, five-a-side football, a basketball court and a climbing wall. In addition, there are plans for a cafe, an internet room, a music studio, a games lounge, meeting rooms and a creche.

As well as offering sports and leisure facilities, the centre will be a base for youth and community services, something TG’s has already started with its relationship educ-ation programme.

Organisers hope the county council will decide to give them access to the site later this summer, after which the Myplace application willbe submitted. If all goes well, work will start early in 2010 and be completed in 2011.

County councillor Penelope Morgan, who is working closely with TG’s organisers, said the project deserved wholehearted support. She said: “Malvern really needs this, especially with the prospect of the youth centre being lost to the development of Malvern Hills College.”