A MARKET town's new £75,000 skatepark has been completed, bringing hopes it will reduce problems caused by youngsters skateboarding on the streets.Local youngsters were yesterday making good use of the new facility, which has been built on the Pageant Field at Framlingham, near the town's castle.

By David Green

A MARKET town's new £75,000 skatepark has been completed, bringing hopes it will reduce problems caused by youngsters skateboarding on the streets.

Local youngsters were yesterday making good use of the new facility, which has been built on the Pageant Field at Framlingham, near the town's castle.

Stephanie Bennell, town council chairman, said there had been complaints over a period of several years about the streets being used for skateboarding activities.

“The new skatepark is a very impressive facility with plenty of scope. It will cater for a whole range of abilities from beginners to experienced skateboarders,” she said.

Mrs Bennell said an official opening ceremony would be held in February.

Russ Holbert , spokesman for contractors, GBH Engineering Limited, said efforts had been made to create a “safe but stimulating haven” for skateboarders.

“There has been an incredible amount of involvement from the young people on this particular project which contributed to produce a great facility for an area of the country which is sadly lacking in such spaces.”

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents inspected the new skatepark on Thursday and gave it the “all clear”.

Grants towards the cost of the project came from the Foundation for Sports and Arts, Suffolk Coastal District Council, Framlingham Town Council, the Corporate Regeneration Fund, Suffolk Environmental Trust, the Local Network Fund, Framlingham Area Youth Action Partnership, Framlingham Youth Club and Adnams, the Southwold brewer.

A bungee jump organised by the Crown Hotel, Framlingham, raised the final £1,500 to enable the work to be completed.

n Meanwhile, plans to create a skatepark in another market town are set to be given the go-ahead next month.

Eye Town Council is planning the facility on the Town Moors recreation area at a cost of about £35,000.

Mid Suffolk District Council's area planning committee is expected to grant permission at its meeting on January 10.

Eye mayor, Simon Hooton, said: “We hope that work will start in the spring.”

david.green@eadt.co.uk