Morrisons offer land and £50,000 to Wadebridge for skate park

An eleventh hour offer of land and £50,000 for a skate park is being offered to Wadebridge by Morrisons' development partner, Merriman Ltd.

This incentive comes one week before its plans are due to go before the planning committee.

The company says if its plans are approved it will provide an acre of land it owns and a further £50,000 towards the cost of a concrete, all-weather BMX and skateboard park.

The battle of the supermarkets includes Sainsbury's which is hoping to build a new store on the outskirts of the town. Sainsbury's is also offering a skate park in its proposals.

Michael Merriman, managing director of Merriman Ltd said: "Along with more than 370 new jobs and the new sports facilities at Wadebridge Town Football Club, the latest commitment of the BMX and skate park will benefit generations of Wadebridge's youth far into the future.

"The BMX and skate park would be built on land adjacent to Wadebridge School, providing easy and safe access from the school and town centre.

"The day we get planning consent I will write the £50,000 cheque to kick-start the fundraising needed for a state-of-the-art BMX and skateboard park. We will also do everything we can to fundraise the rest of the finance required for the park.

"With Morrisons, we are committed to bringing new jobs, investment and sports facilities to Wadebridge."

Wadebridge resident Matt Dalley, 17, has been campaigning for a new skate park for the past few years.

He said: "The young skaters, scooters and riders in Wadebridge would love a concrete skate park that could be used all year round. A dirt track is essentially useless as it can be only be used by bikes and only when it is sunny. It's awesome Morrisons would like to help us."

Cornwall Council is expected to make a decision on both the supermarket applications on Thursday, August 25.