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Extra cash for youths

Emilene White
26/ 9/2007

YOUNGSTERS are set to benefit from an £80,000 cash injection to provide more for them to do in Glossop.

A skate park in Hadfield and a multi-use games area in Simmondley were two projects given the green light by councillors at the latest executive meeting of High Peak Council.

The cash will come from money set aside for environmental improvement.

Councillors have yet to decide where the £16,000 skate park will be, although suggestions include Newshaw Lane or Chapel Lane Park.

They must take into account existing facilities and how many youngsters would have access to it, as well as whether the site is appropriate in terms of visibility, size and potential for antisocial behaviour and vandalism.

It will be equipped using materials left unused since they were removed from Manor Park last year.

Councillor Bob McKeown, who represents Hadfield South, said: "Talking to young people, a skate park is one thing they always say they'd like.

"It's somewhere for them to go so they're not at a loose end, hanging about. I think it'll have a really positive effect and it's the start of things to come."

The £20,000 Simmondley games area will be built on land off Pennine Road. It is the first new amenity in Simmondley for 20 years and will provide facilities for football, basketball and other ball games.

An extra £5,000 will be spent on new flagpoles to allow the council to fly flags other than the Union Flag.