Skate park to come to Highwoods? (From Essex County Standard)

Skate park to come to Highwoods?

8:59am Monday 3rd September 2012 in News

COUNCILLORS want to build a state-of-the-art skate park in Highwoods Country Park.

Representatives of Highwoods and St John’s are hoping to join forces to build a £140,000 park in the tourist attraction.

Gerard Oxford, borough councillor for Highwoods, wants to set aside £65,000 in developer contribution money, which is ring-fenced to be used for leisure.

Talks are also underway to reach an agreement with representatives from St John’s for the ward to contribute an extra £40,000, was had been set aside for a playground, off St John’s Close.

Residents have so far failed to agree on how that money should be spent.

“This would be a major project, should we able to go ahead with it,” said Mr Oxford.

“If we go together we will have more than £100,000 and then it is a case of raising the rest.”

Mr Oxford said he would try to get the scheme backed by a share of borough-wide section 106 funding, provided by developers, to top up the pot.