THIS is the first image of a £140,000 skate and BMX park which could be keeping young villagers entertained.

Friends of Meltham Greenway (FMG) hope to build the concrete park at Broadlands recreation ground, off Mean Lane, Meltham, by spring next year.

Meltham Town Council have now agreed to provisional plans for the park.

The park, which will feature all manner of ramps, bowls, ledges and rails, will accommodate skateboarders, BMX riders, and rollerbladers who have been using unofficial sites to practice.

FMG hopes to secure up to £30,000 from Kirklees Council and Meltham Town Council.

The Friends hope sponsors and match funding will cover the rest of the cost.

Currently Huddersfield’s nearest skatepark is off Newsome Road, Newsome, while Sands recreation ground, Holmfirth has a mini-skatepark.

The group had originally planned to build a dirt bike course in Robert Ashton Memorial Park for about £10,000.

But the plan was expanded to a concrete skatepark following requests from boarders who had been using Meltham Morrisons car park as an improvised practice spot.

Friends secretary Melvyn Gibson said: “Holme Valley councillor Terry Lyons had a lovely letter from this 10-year-old lad who had been bought a new skateboard and had nowhere to go.

“In our last meeting the youngsters chose features from a number of skatepark designs which were considered.

“The current position is that a skatepark manufacturer is putting together a bespoke design for Meltham around the ideas of our own youngsters. It will be smaller than this example but at least the Examiner readers can get an idea of what is planned.

“It is quite a challenge but, after the support they have given us, our youngsters deserve something good.”

Some ‘Sk8er Boi’ and BMX lingo:

Grind: To slide on an object, such as a rail of ledge, using a non-moving part such as the axles of a skateboard or pegs on a BMX

Bunny hop: The rider jumps while pulling up on the handle bars bringing the bike airborne

Ollie: The skater pushes down on the tail of the board while jumping to bring the skater and the board off the ground.

Vert: A vertical ramp

Sick: An adjective for a trick which requires skill and nerves of steel eg) performing an ollie down a large flight of stairs