A SKATEPARK refurbishment is set to be complete by the end of the month in order to prevent the loss of funding.

Hyndburn Council bosses last year agreed to provide a £25,000 funding boost to help refurbish the skatepark at Mercer Park in Clayton-le-Moors.

Funding for the project has been secured

from a number of grant funding bodies including £50,000 from Sport England, a further £50,000 from Lancashire Environment Fund, £3,000 from Friends of Mercer Park, £1,000 from Tesco and £600 from Lancashire County Council.

Some of the funding would be lost if the project was not completed by the end of the month.

Deputy head of environmental services, Craig Haraben, said: “The Friends of Mercer Park are the longest standing Friends of Group in the Borough associated with a park.

“Over the years the Friends of Mercer Park have worked with the council to undertake numerous community projects and fund raising events which have benefitted the park.

“The outcome of a consultation undertaken by the Friends of Mercer Park showed that local residents and young people would like to see the refurbishment of the skate park facilities in Mercer Park.

“Funding bids were submitted to relevant funding bodies between July and December 2018.

“The refurbished and improved skate boarding facility will provide a much better resource for the young people of the Borough to use.”

The scheme will be overseen by Proffitts CIC, a community interest company who have expertise in green space, as project managers.

The scheme came forward 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.