THE construction of a long-awaited skate park in Portishead has moved closer after planning permission was approved. 

The Skate and Wheels park is due to be built next year with an announcement for works expected just before Christmas. 

Planning has now been granted and it is hoped the park will see skateboarding, scooter, rollerblade and BMX users at Lake Grounds. 

Consent was first approved for the project on appeal in 2011 but has seen dormancy ever since because North Somerset Council 'refused' to provide landlord consent for the site over many years. It has now been offered. 

It will cost around £360,000 to be built but £225,000 has already been funded through community donations, fun days and events, local businesses and from Portishead Town Council. 

The National Lottery also provided a grant of £112,000. 

There is now a final push to raise £20,000 from the local community to be able to obtain further grant funding for the project. 

The park will be fully accessible for wheelchair users and will feature a bowl and street area complete with ramps, steps and rails. 

A spokesperson for the town council said: "After many years of campaigning by different generations of Portishead residents, the Wheels and Skate Park is now very close to finally being built.

"A fantastic design has been agreed with our user group of riders and a renowned skate park company Maverick has been chosen to build the facility. Maverick has designed and built many highly successful Wheels and Skate Parks across the country.

"We have now obtained around £225,000 of funding from various sources including local community donations, our pie throwing and fun day events, contributions from Local businesses and more.

"A huge thank you to everyone who has donated or helped us get this far."

To help donate with the project, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/portishead-lake-grounds-wheels-and-skate-park.

The scheme is brought by Portishead Wheels and Skate Park (WASP CIC) in partnership with Portishead Town Council.