Sam EmanuelNorwich's long awaited �300,000 national standard skate park is expected to be open by the next bank holiday, council bosses have pledged.Sam Emanuel

Norwich's long awaited �300,000 national standard skate park is expected to be open by the next bank holiday, council bosses have pledged.

The park, funded as part of the �8m investment agreement between Norwich City Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is being built to the council's specifications on an area near the community centre and sports ground in Eaton Park.

The council worked closely with the Skatepark Consultation Group, which helped to refine the design of the park so it could meet the needs of various disciplines, and the park is now expected to open before the next Bank Holiday on Monday, May 31.

A spokeswoman for Norwich City Council said: 'Work on the skate park is progressing well and is on track. We expect to be able to open it by around the third week in May, in time for the spring bank holiday.

'At the moment contractors are concreting the kerbs and the next steps will be to install the floodlighting and furniture such as bins.'

Steve Morphew, leader of the council, added: 'It will be a major asset and something that young people have been asking for for some time.

'I am delighted it will be open before the half-term holidays and will be there throughout the summer.'

The news has been welcomed by city skaters, including Chris Sturgess, who runs skate shop Revolutionz in Lower Goat Lane and has been spearheading calls for a new skate park in the city for more than six years.

He said: 'I am absolutely ecstatic. We have been working towards this for years and although it was good when they said it was going to be built, it's not until they actually start work digging and laying the concrete and so on that you know it's definitely going to happen and that there hopefully won't be any setbacks.

'We are already getting lots of children and bigger kids like me coming into the shop who have been down to have a look at its progress. I think it's going to have a massive impact on the community. People are dragging their BMXs out of the garage and getting their skateboards out to practice for when it opens.

'We hope people will be patient, because there is not long to wait now and we don't want anyone to jump over the fence and have a go when the concrete is not yet set properly, because it could delay the whole project.'

Are you doing something that will benefit young people? If so call Sam Emanuel on 01603 772438 or email sam.emanuel@archant.co.uk.