A YEAR after three young people from Doddington approached the council to ask for one in the village, a skate park is set to open.

The £75,000 Abbey Skate Park will be opened by Chatteris boxer Jordan Gill on May 4 at 12.30pm.

It is sited on the Abbey Recreation Field and will offer facilities for young people of all ages, together with easy access for visitors, via a pathway.

A committee comprising young people, residents from the Abbey estate, District and Parish Councillors has been formed and will take on responsibility for the maintenance of the park, reporting in to the Parish Council.

Approximately twelve months ago, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Parish Council were approached by Reece Feltell, Ryan Valle and Liam Twigg, who were anxious to have a skate park in the village.

This was put to and agreed by the Parish Council and work then began on finding funding for the project.

£35,000 came from Fenland District Council’s Rural Capital Grants Fund, Woodford Waste Management Services Ltd contributed £20,000 towards the project and AmeyCespa donated £20,000.

Sovereign Play Systems, who were given the skate park contract, has provided picnic tables that parents and guardians can use to watch their young people skating.

They have also helped organise the opening ceremony, where professional riders will perform and offer training sessions.

A spokesman for Doddington Parish Council said: “We would like to thank everyone for their help and guidance during the work involved in bringing this project to fruition, but especially Hetty Thornton of Fenland District Council, Andrew Budd of Grantscape, Marion Branch of Cambridgeshire Commercial Foundation and Darran Hine and Justin Mottaz of Sovereign Play Systems Ltd.

“Last but by no means least we would like to thank Reece Feltell, Ryan Valle and Liam Twigg, who had the idea in the first place.”

There will also be competitions for all ages with prizes.