A STATE-OF-THE-ART facility for skateboarders and BMX bikers in Lowestoft is set to be built at Normanston Park in the next two years.The Journal can today reveal that the popular park for footballers, cricketers and tennis players in north Lowestoft could next year be boosted by a £200,000 skate park.

A STATE-OF-THE-ART facility for skateboarders and BMX bikers in Lowestoft is set to be built at Normanston Park in the next two years.

The Journal can today reveal that the popular park for footballers, cricketers and tennis players in north Lowestoft could next year be boosted by a £200,000 skate park.

And this week young people were being asked for their input to help discuss the location and design of it at consultation events at Benjamin Britten High School.

With around 40 locals - including skaters, BMX bikers, police and council representatives - all turning out for the first consultation evening, the proposed site for the skate park was revealed.

The project, which is being spearheaded by Waveney District Council, is part of a strategy to develop opens spaces and community sites throughout the district.

The Play Partnership was set up 15 months ago as the main steering group behind the future of play spaces in the district and includes people from organisations and groups working in the area.

And after a successful bid for over £250,000 from the Big Lottery fund was secured in December, a concrete skate park for north Lowestoft and improvements to three rural play areas at Blundeston, Barnby, North Cove and Westhall will now be delivered in the next two years.

Chris Ames, the partnership co-ordinator, said: “The park will be designed by young people for young people and everyone's input is welcome, from skateboarders to BMX riders and in-line skaters. I am thrilled to be part of this positive movement, to improve existing facilities and create more free play opportunities for young people in our area.”

Chris Punt, Waveney's portfolio holder for performance and chairman of the partnership, added: “It's exciting to finally get on with creating something that's tailored to the young people of Lowestoft. This skatepark was a clear favourite during our initial consultation. We've put in a lot of work so far and it's great to be in the position where we can start generating ideas.”

The consultation events were preliminary talks into what the public want and there are plans for more involvement with the community as plans progress.