Press Releases

Council ramps up funding to help board youngsters (PR 1308)

Ealing’s young skate boarders will be able to banish boredom thanks to plans to build a new skate park in the borough.

The £200,000 project was approved by Ealing’s Cabinet tonight as part of the £1million being spent in the borough this year to improve youth facilities.

In May thousands of 11-16 year olds were asked for their views on how £1million should be spent to improve leisure facilities and a new skate park was one of the top choices.

There is good news too for would be Billy Elliots, with plans for a £65,000 dance studio.

Other projects approved tonight include:

The list was drawn up after 6433 young people responded to a survey asking for their views on youth facilities and 12 focus groups were set up across the borough to look at the ideas in more detail.

The cash was stumped up by the Council after the residents’ survey showed increasing numbers of people think there should be more on offer for young people.  The Council has already started work on 15 other projects spread across the borough, which were approved by the Cabinet in July.

Councillor Ian Gibb, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “This is great news for young people across the borough.  There are new and improved facilities in every town and there really is something for everyone to enjoy.  By investing in this infrastructure we’re providing exciting activities for young people now just now, but hopefully for years to come.”

Work is now underway to find a suitable location for the skate park and dance studio.  For the larger schemes consultation will be carried out with local residents and for several of the projects the Council will have to apply for planning permission before building work can start.

The Cabinet decision is subject to call-in for a period of five working days from the date of publication of the minutes of the meeting.