Major project at Calderdale park gets a £150,000 boost

Following feedback from youngsters, parents and local very experienced skateboarders, a tender document has now been issued to seek design and construction proposals to create a new high-quality wheeled sports provision in Todmorden suitable for skateboards, scooters and bikes and from beginners to experts of all ages.

Todmorden Town Council is aiming to formally select the successful tenderer by the middle of December, and subject to the permission of the Environment Agency and Fields in Trust, who have to agree to the proposals, will appoint a contractor at the town council meeting on December 16 to carry out these works.

On completion of the scheme, the wheelspark will formally transfer to Todmorden Town Council by way of a 25-year lease on a peppercorn rent.

Accelerator Funding has been made available to Calderdale Council from central Government to fast track local projects capable of being delivered by the end of March 2021.

Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker said: “The Government is pleased to help Calderdale Council take forward investment in local facilities as part of a wider Towns Fund initiative, where I am supporting them in their bid to attract very substantial funds for use in Todmorden.

“The Accelerator Fund is an early win for Calderdale, and I am delighted part of this initial £500k award is being used to help Todmorden Town Council deliver this worthy project.”

Leader of Todmorden Town Council, Coun Denis Skelton said: “The town council has been committed to this scheme for many years.

“Until funding could be secured, we could not take forward other key steps to make this happen.

“Through collective support of town councillors, the work of our officers with Calderdale officers, and a commitment to front end over £10,000 of costs to get us to the stage of tender, we are now pressing forward to deliver this long sought after new wheelspark.

“Once we start to break ground we will then further our discussions with users to establish a ‘Friends of the Wheelspark’ group.”