PARK: Young people in Ty Sign, Risca, are set to benefit from new and improved equipment for their local skate park.

Caerphilly County Borough Council has awarded £24,250 to Risca Play and Learn Community Group from its Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) Environmental Improvements budget.

Risca Play and Learn Community Group has also successfully secured funding for the skate park from a number of other sources, including support from Risca Town Council.

The council’s Parks Department will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the area and equipment.

The current skate park is well used which has resulted in the current metal framed equipment nearing the end of its life. New designs for the skate park comprise of a low maintenance, noise reducing concrete structure.

Local residents have been consulted with through meetings, surveys and a Risca Skate Park Appeal Facebook page all co-ordinated by Risca Play and Learn Community Group.

Shaun Couzens, the council’s Chief Housing Officer, said the WHQS programme “aims to improve the communities where our tenants live, through the environmental standard. The council has appointed a team of Environmental Officers whose role is to work with local communities to identify potential improvements and ensure the environmental element of WHQS is being met. The Risca skate park project is a great example of how officers and local residents have worked together to identify a project needed by the community.” 

For more information call 01443 864398 / 864002 or e-mail tenantinvolvement@caerphilly.gov.uk