Skaters help secure funding for improvements

Rossendale Borough Council have secured £98,000 from Viridor Credits Environmental Company to help with the refurbishment of the Stubbylee Skate Park. 

Local skaters approached Rossendale Council to work together to help them to improve the skate park.  

Skater Jack Nuttall said: “We initially contacted Cllr Andrew Walmsley to ask if anything could be done to improve the quality of the skate park surface and the ramps, they are old but still really well used. The Summer Olympics last year really increased the popularity of skating and the facilities in the park were letting the sport down.  

“He told us that the skate park was identified as an area within the Stubbylee Park masterplan, and that our input could really help in shaping the improvements.’’ 

Cllr Jackie Oakes from the Stubbylee Masterplan group said: “It’s really good to see young people take the initiative and work constructively to achieve what they need. They often get a bad press but it’s usually a small minority that give the rest a bad name – here is a great example of what can be achieved when councils and communities work together.” 

The council met regularly with the skaters, Bacup Pride and in conjunction with the Stubblyee Masterplan steering group and other stakeholders have developed a design brief for the bid submission to Viridor Credits which was successfully awarded last month. 

Viridor Credits is an independent, not-for-profit organisation providing funding for community projects around the UK through the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund. 

Gareth Williams, Operations Manager at Viridor Credits, said: “Skate parks are a fantastic community amenity, attracting people of all ages and skill level and providing a focal point for socialising.  

“Bacup’s new skate park will be a major attraction in the town and beyond. Viridor Credits is pleased to support our second project in Stubbylee Park, following a £49,000 project to install children’s play equipment in 2019.”  

Cllr Walmsley said: “We were more than happy to work with and support the young people of Bacup. Stubbylee Park has recently been awarded Green Flag status a nationally accredited award and has seen significant improvements in recent years including the addition of the pump track and refurbished playground with improvements to both the fairy dell and duck pond.  

“This latest successful bid is testament to what can be achieved when we all come together and collectively work towards the same objective. 

“I’m sure the skaters will have a real sense of ownership and pride when the refurbishment is completed, I can’t wait to see the works completed” 

The council will also be adding further capital to the project with plans for it to completed by the summer.