PLANS for a long awaited skatepark at a Wrexham beauty spot have taken a major step forward.
Llay councillor Malcolm Taylor believes the end is in sight in a long-running fight to create the skate park in the village at Alyn Waters Country Park, after financial progress was made at a Llay Community Council meeting.
Members have provisionally agreed to provide funding towards the project as part of a one year service agreement, helping cover insurance costs and paving the way for project leaders to seek further grant funding.
However, the council plans to hold discussions with Wrexham Council officials before confirming it will enter into the agreement and provide the money.
The total cost of the project has been estimated to be about £34,000 by Cllr Taylor, who has pushed for the park’s creation along with a small group of other Llay residents.
He said: “I have been fighting for this for about six years, finally I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“I believe this is something that is desperately needed.
“We received a very favourable reaction from the community council and this was a massive step forward for us.”
Cllr Taylor, who hopes the skate park could be open by next year, believes the young Llay residents are fully behind the project.
He said: “The young people keep asking me when we are going to get the skate park. Finally I am able to give them good news.
“There is very little else for our youngsters to do. It is all very well people moaning about kids being out on the streets but there needs to be things in place for them.”
Cllr Taylor said more than £1,000 would be provided by the council as part of the service agreement.
The skate park is due to be located close to the playground at the Llay entrance to Alyn Waters.
Sheila Woolrich, clerk of Llay Community Council, confirmed members have agreed in principle to take up a one year service level agreement to support the skate park project.
But she said discussions are to be held with Wrexham Council, which owns the land, before a commitment to the agreement is confirmed.
She said: “Hopefully it will all be fine and it seems things are progressing. “It is important to us we go about things the right way. We need to hear from Wrexham Council before we do anything else.”
l What do you think of the planned skatepark? Are you a Llay resident who would fully support the project? Have your say on our website at www. leaderlive.co.uk or by emailing news@leaderlive.co.uk.