After a successful bid by Todmorden Town Council to Calderdale Council for Accelerator Funding of £150,000, the Town Council is well on its way to delivering a new Wheelspark to replace the existing one in Centre Vale Park.
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 16th December 2020 to carry out these works.
On completion of the scheme, the Wheelspark will formally transferred to Todmorden Town Council by way of a 25-year lease on a peppercorn rent.
Accelerator Funding has been made available to Calderdale MBC from central government to fast track local projects capable of being delivered by the end of March 2021.
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”
Calderdale Cllr Silvia Dacre, who supported this bid for Accelerator Funds said “we are delighted to help in this. Key to making this happen was Todmorden Town Council’s willingness to grasp this opportunity. They have worked well with Calderdale Officers to bring forward a scheme capable of delivery within a very short timescale.
Leader of Todmorden Town Council Cllr 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 and build on what will be a very exciting improvement in facilities for our youngsters in the town.