Skate park set to ramp up Freeman Street's make-over

A NEW indoor skate park is set to open on Grimsby's Freeman Street later this month.

Work has already begun on transforming the inside of the derelict former Kwik Save building into a facility for scooters, BMX riders, inliners and skateboarders.

And the couple behind the plan are hoping to officially open the new centre, which will be known as Ghetto Park, in the next few weeks.

Wayne Albery and his partner Pam Collison, of North Street, Cleethorpes, took receipt of the keys to the building back in April.

They were granted planning permission to change the use of the building by North East Lincolnshire Council planning officers in June, and work on constructing the ramps for the new facility began last week.

Pam and Wayne, who have experience in the building and painting and decorating trades, decided to embark on the venture after hearing complaints from local BMX riders that there was no indoor skate park in the area.

The couple got to know riders who frequented the Mainline BMX shop in High Street, Cleethorpes, as it was located near to the sweet shop that Pam ran for three years.

After an 18-month search for a suitable building, they struck gold when the former Kwik Save premises became available last November, following the closure of Smart Bargains.

Three levels of ceiling have been removed to increase the height of the building to 15ft.

The work is being carried out free of charge by local BMX riders and GY 90, a group set up by Giving Young People Opportunities.

The new skate park will also include a cafe, and will be open seven days a week. Two part-time and two full-time jobs have been created, and the posts already filled.

An annual membership scheme will offer discounts for regular visitors, but Pam is also hoping that riders will come from further afield to use the facility.

She said: "Riders like different challenges and riders from this area go all over the country, so we are hoping people from other areas will come and try our skate park."

Plans are also afoot to run an after-school club.

Pam added: "We want to create a safe environment where families can leave their children. This is going to get a lot of kids onto scooters and off the streets."

The exterior of the building will also be given a facelift thanks to a grant from the council's shop front scheme, and Pam believes the creation of the new skate park will boost the wider regeneration of Freeman Street.

She said: "Not a single person that we have spoken to has had a bad word to say about it because it can only be good for the area."

Keep checking your Grimsby Telegraph for details on the official opening.