MORE than £300,000 of funding has been confirmed to replace a "popular" skatepark.

The concrete skate park, which will be based at the Knap in Barry, will replace the existing facility which was opened in 2007 in memory of Barry skate champion Richard Taylor.

In partnership with the Richard Taylor Memorial Fund and Sports Wales, funds will be used to completely replace the skatepark.

Given the success of Team GB at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2022 in skateboarding and BMX, the opportunity to completely replace the facility with a new concrete park is something partners are keen to deliver.

The Richard Taylor Memorial Fund has confirmed a contribution of £30,000, obtained through the South Wales Police Youth Trust and The Waterloo Foundation, towards a new park, with additional funding coming from the Vale of Glamorgan Council. 

Richard’s brother, Rob Taylor, who has been assisting with this project, said:

“It is great to see the progress being made by all parties on this project. 

“We are delighted that something new and exciting will appear at the site in the future. 

“Most importantly for the family it will continue to provide a quality free facility for all to use and provide the opportunity for all to be involved in activities that Richard excelled in.”

Work is now under way, in consultation with the Richard Taylor Memorial Fund, to choose a design for the new park.

Cllr Kathryn McCaffer, Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet member for leisure, arts and culture, added that she is “delighted” with the funding which will help replace a “popular and much-loved facility”.

An application to Sport Wales has also now been approved that provides most of the funding required for the new facility.  The total cost of the new scheme is estimated at £330,000.

Assistant director for insight, policy and public affairs at Sport Wales, Owen Hathway, said:

“This is a real collaborative effort which will give the community free access to high quality facilities for skateboarding and BMX - sports that are growing in popularity with young people since their inclusion at the Olympics

“Developments and facility enhancements, such as this one at Knap skatepark, will help the sector in its aim to provide the opportunity to be physically active to every person in Wales.”