Local skateboarders, micro-scooter and BMX users are being urged to consider forming their own club this week to aid plans to build a wheeled play facility in Tenby.

Last year Pembrokeshire County Council removed children’s play equipment at Tenby’s Jubilee Park on health and safety grounds.

With no county council funding available for replacement equipment, the Friends of the Jubilee Park was set up to raise money to reinstate the play facilities. Along with Tenby Town Council, they have devised a scheme which combines a range of play equipment for five to 11 year olds with a skate park on the site.

The £85,000 project has been part-funded by grants from Tenby Town Council (£38,500), Pembrokeshire County Council (£20,000) and Dyfed-Powys Police Proceeds of Crime (£5,000); donations from local organisations like Tenby Guides and Brownies, Tenby Civic Society, Tenby Soroptimists, Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism and fundraising initiatives by The Friends.

“The Friends are very grateful for all the support we have received to date and are continuing to raise funds, but at the moment we still have to find about £18,000,”

said Friends’ secretary Andrew Davies.

“We have sent off grant bids to various organisations, including Sport Wales, but we are finding that they require evidence of the numbers that will use the facility once completed.

“What we need to have set up in Tenby is a club that can develop the use of the skate/wheeled play facilities.

“It may not guarantee us grant aid, but without the formation of a club, we have no chance at all of accessing these funds, which could mean a delay in the project.

“We know that the skater community have a lot of parental support, it just needs a group of them to come together to set up a proper club as soon as possible.”

Mr Davies added that the Friends and town council are more than happy to support and help advise on setting up a club.

Anyone interested can contact him at the De Valence on 01834 842730