Talks on future of Llanelli skate park

Skateboarders in Llanelli have met with Carmarthenshire council’s Executive Board member to discuss the future of the skate park.
Cllr Philip Hughes went along to see the current facility in People’s Park and to talk to the youngsters about what they would like there.
The council’s grounds maintenance section had to remove three pieces of equipment at the park three weeks ago for health and safety reasons.
One of the units has been repaired and has now been re-installed; however, the other two units are beyond repair.
They are now working with officers from the council’s community development section to investigate sources of funding to build a new skate park.
The officers are looking at what grants are available and how best to take the project forward as it could mean setting up a trust.
The skateboarders are being continually updated with the progress being made and will be very much involved with the design of any new facility.
Cllr Hughes said: “I was very impressed with the young people I met at the skate park; they want to work with the council and they are prepared to do what their bit too to make it happen. They have already set up a committee and are looking at a number of fundraising activities from a skate-a-thon to a car wash.
“It is so important that we have facilities like this for our young people. It is already very well used, but it really needs to be improved and the aim is to try and secure funding to build a new park.
“The council is committed to the future of the skate park in Llanelli and I know our officers are working very hard on this.
“The skateboarders are very much involved; they will decide what they want in the new park and they’ll even be involved in the design of it.
“The next stage is to decide how we will proceed with the project so that we can start putting applications for funding together, it can be quite a lengthy process unfortunately, but I’m sure it will all be worth it in the end.”
Jordan Turner, aged 16, a student at Coleg Sir Gar, who is part of Llanelli Skate Forum, said they had been looking at a new skate park for some time, but the removal of some of the equipment had now spurred them on.
“We’ll do all we can to try and help raise money for it, we’ve asked the leisure centre if we can do a car wash there, we’re looking at having a band play too, and we’ve talked about a skate-a-thon along the coastal path from Llanelli to Burry Port.”