Council commits to skate park

With immediate effect, a working party will be formed to speed the scheme along as quickly as possible. This will be made up of young people and it will have the working support of parish clerk Jane Duffy with Councillor Mark Cunnane (correct), the driving force behind the idea, a likely chairman.
Now youngsters will be asked for their input as serious planning gets underway. Contacts will be made with various grant making trusts in a bid to secure funding.
The parish council sees its role as largely that of facilitators and they likened their involvement as being similar to when mothers banded together to form Play in Prestwood (PIP).
On that occasion Mrs Duffy assisted the mother's behind the playground scheme with administrative backup. The campaign was an enormous success and the playground, off Grymsdyke, opened to great fanfare in the summer of 2007. Cherie Blair, wife of former Premier Tony Blair, presided at the opening.
Councillors are positive about the project.
But Mrs Duffy stressed on Monday that there was no money in the current budget for the idea. Fund raising would be necessary, she said.
Councillor Jed Maher told the meeting that the police were supportive of the idea.
Mrs Duffy said planning permission would be needed from Chiltern District Council if the skateboard was more than four metres tall.
Mr Cunnane and Mrs Duffy have held meetings with various suppliers on site in an attempt to draw up possible future options.