REBUILDING work costing £40,000 on Dunmow s skateboard park is expected to be completed by the end of this week it was announced on Monday. David Green, deputy town clerk, said: Work on the already existing part of the park should be completed by Friday,

REBUILDING work costing £40,000 on Dunmow's skateboard park is expected to be completed by the end of this week it was announced on Monday.

David Green, deputy town clerk, said: "Work on the already existing part of the park should be completed by Friday, weather permitting, with an additional area opening maybe in late

Autumn depending on how fund-raising goes.

"When it first opened, this was a very popular facility. Unfortunately, as it got old, its popularity declined until, eventually, the equipment came to the end of its life and it became obvious it had to be replaced.

"What we will have when the work is finished is a state of the art skate park that everyone can enjoy."

The new skate park has been designed and built by one of the UK's top skate park construction companies, Fearless Ramps.

Owner Andy Peerless said: "This has been designed and custom built with a specific user group in mind and has been brought completely up to date with up-to-date ramps, which means that skaters can do more tricks.

"The ramps are also wider meaning they are also safer to use, especially for those people who may not be such good skaters as some of those who used to use the old park."

Mr Peerless explained that in addition to the improved wider ramps, the quarter-pipe will also be wider and the street equipment will the longer and wider as well.

He also said that it has been custom built to fit the existing bed, which cuts the costs of removing building rubble.

"There's four new grid blocks, 44 inches extra on the top bank and 20 inches extra banks on the bottom section," he said adding that the planning for the new half-pipe is coming soon.

Funding for the new area, which will cost an extra £15,000 is being raised by the town council through grants from Uttlesford District Council and Essex County Council. Skater groups are also helping raise money to fund the building work.

One of the events currently being planned is a concert.

John Starr, youth and arts officer at Uttlesford District Council, said: "Things are still at an early stage at the moment but I can confirm a fund-raising concert is being planned to take place in Foakes Hall on Friday June 29.

"Once again, it's too early to say exactly what it will entail but I know it will include performances by local bands. Once everything has been finalised we'll be letting everyone know about it.