The first turf has been dug on Bodmin’s new purpose-built skatepark for the town.

The project has been a very long time in the planning, and is phase one of a wider scheme that will eventually see a multi-use games area and a sensory garden with seating created at the site beside the tennis courts at Priory Park.

With highly-regarded skate park designers Maverick on board, it’s hoped that the park will provide a facility for all ages and abilities, and like others in the county, may also attract users from outside the town.

The build will involve a mixture of prefabricated and sprayed concrete sections using the most up-to date and modern concrete skate park construction techniques.

A spokesperson for Maverick said: ’Cornwall is an exciting place to be at the moment for skateboarders, BMX and scooter riders.

’Towns with this style of park (spray concrete) are seeing visitors from all over the country.’

If the weather is favourable, Bodmin’s skate park will take around eight weeks to build, and Maverick believes the skating community can expect to test it out during the autumn.

A user group made up of local people representing a mixture of wheeled sports worked with Maverick to come up with the designs and features.

Funding for the project has come from Bodmin Town Council’s Section 106 fund and a grant from Sport England.

Mayor Jeremy Cooper said: ’This is something that the Town Council has worked on for a long time, and seeing the spades in the ground is very exciting. The finished park will be a wonderful asset to the community and something that the town can be very proud of.’

Meanwhile deputy mayor Phil Cooper said that the wider project to redevelop a very underused part of Priory Park and make it appealing to all ages ’is a good investment for the town, that will truly have something for everyone to enjoy’.

Chair of the Town Council’s Community Engagement committee Cllr Debbie Henderson said: ’The skatepark is something the residents of Bodmin have been promised since before I can remember.

’Throughout the building of the park, residents are asked to be mindful about avoiding the area whilst machinery and contractors are on site.

’The rest of the meadow is still accessible for the community and progress of the skatepark can be watched from a safe distance.’