RESIDENTS in Llandrindod Wells are flipping out over the news that a new skate park is coming to town.

Llandrindod Town Council announced it has secured land for the new park from the local authority, with the skate park described as an “exciting project” that will enhance the facilities in the spa town. A 25-year lease has been secured from Powys County Council and the town council will now begin the process of starting to attract grant money to help fund the project. The project has been spearheaded by former mayor Steve Deeks-D’Silva and town clerk Jane Johnston and may have been green lighted earlier, but for the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Llandrindod Wells Town Council are pleased to announce that it has secured land via lease from Powys County Council at Princes Avenue to build a new skate park. This will be an exciting project bringing another facility to our town,” the council said on its Facebook page on Wednesday.

In a further statement the council added: “This had been delayed for many months due to the pandemic. This has been constantly pushed forward by former chair, Councillor Steve Deeks-D’Silva, and town clerk Jane Johnston.

“A lot of work was undertaken to explore options with the final outcome of the land being acquired with a view to building a new skate park in Llandrindod. Now the hard work will commence to try and identify and obtain grant funding for this important project. The town council is pleased to be working alongside Llandrindod’s Ready to Roll on this project.”

County Times: Great Britain's Sky Brown won a bronze medal in the women's park event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. Great Britain's Sky Brown won a bronze medal in the women's park event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.

The council added that skateboarding being added to the Tokyo Olympics this summer had inspired councillors to push ahead with plans for a skate park, while it hoped the skate park would promote its ethos of promoting mental health wellness.

“The skate park will be an exciting project and will increase the outdoor activities available within our town and promote our ethos of ‘wellness’,” added the council.

“Following the 2020 Olympics, with the focus placed on skateboarding, this facility is now even more important than ever for our town, its residents and visitors.”

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) added skateboarding as well as baseball/softball, karate, sports climbing and surfing to the list of competitive events for the 2020 Olympic Games – with British athlete Sky Brown, just 13, winning a bronze medal in the women's park event at the beginning of August.

The skate park news has been warmly welcomed by the local community, with the council’s announcement receiving over 100 likes on Facebook.

Liz Harris said: “Fantastic news, myself and my family are avid skaters and absolutely wholeheartedly welcome this news. Brilliant, well done everyone involved in getting this to come about.”

Flick Miles said: “Want to say a personal big thank you to whoever has done this; our kid will be so happy, he's been really wanting to get into it more than regular skating and a few ollies. Maybe as part of summer holiday programming they could have a tutor for the day/morning /afternoon? Exciting times.”

Mike Hodges added: “Well done and good luck on completing the project; exciting news for the town.”