£180,000 Walsall skate park bid gathering pace

New company Ridaz Paradise had been aiming to raise £60,000 to create the new facility but is now looking to create a bigger skate park at a cost of £180,000.

Company director Julie Taylor, of Lichfield Road, Bloxwich, claimed there was a need for an indoor facility in the borough and events organised to raise awareness for the campaign have been supported by hundreds of youngsters in the past.

More than 200 young BMX riders and skateboarders turned out to an event at Leamore Skate Park last year and another event at the park has been planned for tomorrow from 1pm.

Mrs Taylor's 21-year-old son Ryan became a professional BMX rider after being recognised at the age of 13. He also gave thousands of pounds of his own money towards the scheme to get it off the ground.

Mrs Taylor said an undisclosed premises had now been identified for the skate park in Walsall town centre and hopes a deal can be struck later this year.

She said a funding bid had also been submitted to Awards for All and other funding bids are due to be lodged in the near future.

She claimed a number of investors had also come forward and is hoping tomorrow's event will encourage even more donations.

Mother-of-three Mrs Taylor, aged 49, said: "

The project is now on a much bigger scale than we had planned. The new £180,000 venue will provide an exciting new facility for the young people of Walsall and those across the Black Country."

For more details, visit www.facebook.com/RidazParadise