A SKATEPARK is to be the subject of a £150,000 funding bid in an attempt to improve its facilities.

Hyndburn Council bosses are looking for support to submit a bid to a number of funding bodies to refurbish the skatepark at Mercer Park in Clayton-le-Moors.

The cabinet is being asked to support a joint bid between the council and Proffitts CIC for funding, expected to be in the region of £150,000.

Cabinet is also recommended to agree in principle to allocate £25,000 to the project from the council’s 2019/20 capital programme as match funding, subject to approval of council budgets.

Cllr Paul Cox, cabinet member for environmental services, said it would be a big positive for the area.

He said: “I think it’s a good idea, obviously it is a well-used facility at the moment.

“It would be good to get the funding in and improve it and expand it so it can be used by even more people in the area.

“It would enable it to be refurbished and give more options for the young people who use it.”

The bid comes after a consultation with the Friends of Mercer Park group which showed local residents would like to see the refurbishment of facilities.

The group is the longest-standing park ‘friends of’ group in the borough and has worked with the council to undertake numerous community projects and fundraising events over the years.

Cllr Tim O’Kane, who represents the area on the council, praised the work of the group and said he would welcome the plans.

He said: “It’s a great aspiration, but it’s about making sure the funding is there.

“But overall it is something I welcome, it would be great for the community in Clayton-le-Moors.

“It would be great to see the money come in and improve the facilities so more people can use them.”

Proffitts CIC is a community interest company which has expertise in green space improvement projects and has offered to undertake the work necessary to secure funding for the project at no cost to the council.

The plans are expected to be given the go-ahead at the Hyndburn Council cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

A cabinet report said: “The size of skate facility is quite small and the additional funding means the refurbished skate park will be a larger facility with more play value for the children and young people who use the site.”