LOCAL LIB DEMS DELIGHTED THAT SKATEBOARD PARK WILL GET THE GREEN LIGHT

2.06.11pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Apr 2006

Thanks to hard work and determination of Liberal Democrat Councillors and local young people, plans for a skate-park in Hereford have at last been realised with a site being identified at the former Denco car park on Holmer Road for this project.

Following campaigning by residents and Liberal Democrat City Councillors, Herefordshire County Council has agreed to lease the area to the Parish of Hereford City Council, who will maintain the skate-park. This will provide young people in Hereford with a safe area in which they can use their skateboards and BMX bikes. This agreement comes as a surprise to many, as the Conservative led County Council has until now been at best apathetic and at worst openly obstructive of attempts to make progress.

Liberal Democrat City Councillors have been actively working towards the creation of an area dedicated to the use of skateboards, BMX bikes and rollerblades. Councillor Marcelle Lloyd-Hayes has been at the forefront of this campaign, working closely with community groups and tirelessly lobbying the County Council, even in the face of indifference from Conservative Councillors. "I am absolutely delighted that a site has been identified." commented Cllr Lloyd-Hayes. She went on to praise the tenacity of the young members of Wheeled Sport for Hereford:

"These young people have stayed together for more than two years and working extremely hard holding fundraising events to raise £250,000 for the skate-park"

This hard work seems set to be rewarded now that plans can be drawn up for the creation of the park.