Highfield Skate Park is preparing for a major investment as Prudhoe Town Council is set to pump more than £50,000 into improving the park’s equipment.

Following negotiations with Northumberland Estates, which owns the land, a meeting was held on March 3 at the town’s Spetchells Centre to gather public opinion on the direction and design of the park, proposed for June 2021.

The meeting, chaired by Sarah Eden, clerk to the town council, was attended by town councillors Bryan Futers, of Prudhoe West and Halfway, and Jennifer McGee, West Wylam, who are supportive of the move from a metal skate park to a concrete park.

Fourteen young people were also invited to share their ideas.

The popular park, home to Highfield Fest, was put under the microscope by Gary Newton, whose son, Josh, is a British scooter champion.

Gary, a Prudhoe resident, attended the meeting and stressed the need for better facilities, explaining fans of the sport were forced to travel further afield for a better skating experience.

The young people watched a slideshow of a number of skate parks across the region and were tasked with creating a list of desirable and undesirable elements for the park.

It was agreed the youngsters would create a name and logo for the project, as well as building a social media presence and come up with fund-raising ideas.

Prudhoe Town Council will also seek funding from local businesses and work with other towns which have recently developed their skating facilities to work towards a more sustainable future for the park.

Councillors have secured a 20-year lease for the site, in what Prudhoe Mayor, Coun. Tracy Gilmore, has described as a step in the right direction.