SKATEBOARDING beginners will have space to learn new skills at Melksham’s skate park, thanks to a new mini-ramp that will be built later this year.
Pro-skateboarder, James Threlfall MBE, with the support of Wiltshire councillor Jonathon Seed, has secured funding of £25,000 to build a new half-pipe (a U-shaped mini-ramp) at the skatepark in King George V playing field.
Construction of the new mini-ramp is hoped to start in June, and will take two and a half weeks – with completion in time for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where skateboarding will make its Olympic debut.
The new mini-ramp will give less-confident skateboarders a space to develop their skills away from the more confident users of the current open-plan skatepark.
Speaking at last week’s Melksham Area Board, James, who grew up in Melksham said, “This comes at a great time, as skateboarding will be in the Olympics.
“So obviously with this being built and the Olympics on its way, it should be really good – we should see a massive uplift in young people picking up skateboards.
“This (mini-ramp) should offer an extra space that they feel comfortable coming to use – separate from the skatepark, so it doesn’t feel super daunting that there are guys over 6-foot like me also using the space.”
Funding for the skatepark extension has been secured from Gompels Healthcare, Gompels Pharmacy, Dumb Clothing, TKC Sales Ltd, Selwood Housing, and the Melksham Area Board.
