SENIOR officials have doffed their caps to some great work by youngsters in securing new equipment for Dunmow s skate park. A grant to provide a new quarter pipe ramp at the park on The Causeway was being sought to complete the current circuit and Cllr

SENIOR officials have doffed their caps to some great work by youngsters in securing new equipment for Dunmow's skate park.

A grant to provide a new 'quarter pipe' ramp at the park on The Causeway was being sought to complete the current circuit and Cllr Neil Tuttlebury told assembled councillors that assistance from teenagers was key to the project going ahead.

He said: "If the users of the skatepark make representations themselves, the grants are more likely to be given. We have had a great deal of the skaters helping out with the project and we have been delighted with their attitude and willingness to help obtain funding."

The skaters will be holding a competition for 'Dunmow's Best Skater' at the carnival on Saturday and the original course designer will be on hand, along with ex-mayor Frank Silver to provide and present the winner with a trophy.

Cllr Silver said: "I have donated a trophy to give to the winner and have also been advised that the skaters are only too willing in helping the litter pick the day after the carnival."

Although the grants have yet to be received some new equipment has already been put in, bearing the name of Will Chapman, a 13 year old pupil of the Helena Romanes School who used the park but died from cancer earlier this year.

The equipment was built by ex-skaters association chairman Julian Carter.

He said: "I did it at the request of some of the skaters and people who now run the project. Of course there was no fee, just cash needed for the materials."

Downs and commons committee chairman Cllr Trudi Hughes, who oversees the skate facility, was delighted to see the skaters had taken the opportunity to shape their own park and had also taken the responsibility of looking after it.

"It has been a tremendous success," she said. "It is wonderful to see the users of the park really take responsibility for the facility. I am so glad that the funding is going ahead and the circuit can be completed.

"We, as a council, will support and encourage them every step of the way.