Llandrindod Wells is a step closer to having a new skate park near the centre of the town.

It was announced by Llandrindod Wells Town Council last Wednesday, August 18, that it completed the land transfer via a 25-year-lease from Powys County Council for the land at Prince’s Avenue.

The transfer of land, which is located near Llandrindod Lake, had been delayed for many months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the new skate park has been ‘constantly pushed forward’ by Llandrindod town clerk Jane Johnston as well as town councillor and former mayor Cllr Steve Seeks D’Silva.

Speaking on behalf of the ‘delighted’ town council, Ms Johnston said: A lot of work was undertaken to explore options with the final outcome of the land being acquired with a view to building a new Skate Park in Llandrindod Wells.  

“Now the hard work will commence to try and identify and obtain grant funding for this important project. The town council is pleased to be working alongside Llandrindod’s Ready to Roll on this project.

“The skate park will be an exciting project and will increase the outdoor activities available within our town and promote our ethos of ‘wellness’.”

Ms Johnston said that following the 2020 Olympics, the focus has been placed on skateboarding and that the facility is now “more important that ever” for the town as well as its residents and visitors.

This year was the first time in Olympic history that featured skateboarding. Gold medals were awarded to Japan, Australia, Brazil, the United States and Team Great Britain for skateboard during the Tokyo Olympics 2020 which were shown this year as the games were delayed for a year due to Coronavirus.

Community group Llandrindod’s Ready to Roll, which has been a part of the effort to secure the skate park, described the news as exciting.

It said: “We are pleased to announce Llandrindod Wells Town Council have secured a lease on land for the skate park project. This is huge.

“It’s taken a long time and a lot of work so a big thanks to everyone who’s brought us a big step closer to making this happen.

“We’d like to mention a special thanks to Jane Johnston, Steve Deeks-D’Silver and Jase Hawker. We are now ready to push forward with fund raising to get the park built.”

It is not the first feature in the town for skaters as residents enjoy the use of a solitary skating ramp on Prince’s Avenue which closed briefly in 2019 due to safety concerns.

Currently, those who enjoy wheel-based sports have to travel as far as Hereford to use a full skating facility if they want more than just the available halfpipe which is currently at the site already.

People who support the Llandrindod’s Ready to Roll scheme said they were “chuffed” with the news. One Facebook user commented on the announcement: “Great to hear it’s finally sorted. One task off my to do list- now to help you raise the funds to make it a reality.”

The Facebook post by Llandrindod Town Council received more than 40 comments to say thank you and voice excitement at the plans for the new skate park.

One user commented on the announcement: “Fantastic news. Myself and my family are avid skaters and aboslutely whole heartedly welcome this news. Brilliant, well done everyone involved in getting this to come about!”