A FUNDRAISING event was held in aid of the Delabole Skate and Park Project recently, raising nearly £500 for the cause, writes Rosie Cripps.

On Friday, June 30, the Delabole Skate and Park Project committee held an afternoon tea event to raise money for the developing project, raising £472.50 altogether.

Formed at the beginning of the year, the project came about when a small group of people in the Delabole community realised there was a need for a facility for young people in the village, encouraging children to get outside, keep fit and stay out of trouble.

Speaking of the event, a member of the committee, Jo Harris, told the Post: “It went really well. We raised a total of £472.50 from the fundraiser.

“We’re in the very early stages at the moment; we’ve got three separate tenders for the design work, and we’re going to be presenting the designs to the council at their next meeting. We have one design in the pipeline already, but we hope to get two more by the next meeting.”

Jo explained that if the project has the backing of St Teath Parish Council, then the committee can then decide which contract to work with and approach different fundraising organisations for grants and money to help move the project along.

The total costs are in the region of £150,000 and £160,000, and the committee is looking at constructing a full scale concrete skate park.

Jo continued: “We figured, if we are going to do this, we might as well aim as high as possible, and if we did come to stumble over the designs, we could go back to the plans and go from there. So the aim is to aim high.”

The committee will have to wait for the council for the final plans to come in, and will then proceed to hold a committee meeting with the council, to get the council’s backing.

Jo explained that a skate park and community facility is ‘definitely needed’ in Delabole.

She said: “It’s definitely needed. Of course, we know of a few surrounding skate parks — there’s one in Camelford — but they’re more of a metal style.

“The reason we wanted to go for concrete is because it’s noise limiting. You know, we didn’t really want kids to be scraping on the pavements outside people’s houses.

“Also, the kids that are not of a park age can have something to use, and it’s something that people will have a reason to travel to Delabole for.”

The committee has been working with some experienced skate park constructors and designers, who have overseen the erection of many Cornish skate parks, including Perranporth, which, according to Jo, has ‘gone down really well’.

It is hoped, once the project has council approval and the funds are secured, that the construction of the Delabole Skate and Park site will take up to ‘a couple of years’.

Speaking of the support from the recent fundraising event, Jo added: “There was a huge amount of support, which we are so grateful for. I really hope the community — everyone — keeps supporting our projects.

"Also a big thank you to Steve Heard Butchers in Camelford, who provided all the meat for our event."

The Delabole Skate and Park Project will be hosting a fun day on August 13 at Delabole Park, from 11am, to raise more funds for the project. All are welcome.

To keep up to date with the project, visit www.facebook.com/Delabole-Skate-and-Park-Project