Leek's new skate park has wheel appeal

Published on 20 September 2019

Leek's new skate park is on a roll with wheeled-sports enthusiasts and is proving extremely popular since opening earlier this year.

The Brough Park facility was designed by one of the UK's leading skate park design companies, Maverick Industries Ltd, and a group of local users was involved in helping to shape the finished product by working with the company on the designs.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council wants to encourage more and more people to get more active and is investing in high quality amenities across a wide range of diverse activities and leisure options to accommodate all ages and interests.

Councillor Mark Deaville, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sports, said: "We're delighted with this new skate park but - more importantly - so are the users. It's been a real hit and is proving extremely popular.

"The profile of wheeled sports including skating and BMX biking, is set to rise when they feature at the Tokyo Olympics next year so it's great that we have facilities such as this in the Moorlands where people who are inspired to give it a go can come and get involved.

"Being more active has so many benefits and we want to encourage as many people as possible to increase their activity levels. By providing a varied and diverse range of options, we hope that more and more people will find a sport or leisure activity that meets their interests and needs."

The overall project cost £220,000 including £50,000 support from Sport England's Community Asset Fund. The Council hopes that, as well as providing another public leisure amenity, this investment will spark interest in establishing a new wheeled-sports club in Leek.

People using the park may have noticed a plaque dedicated to Lee Sheldon who was a keen wheeled sports enthusiast who passed away as a result of diabetes. A group of his friends organised a fundraising event at the skate park at the end of the summer to benefit Diabetes UK.

Councillor Deaville added: "We would like to extend our very best wishes to Lee's family and to his friends who did such a great job organising the fundraising event in his memory."