29 September 2014

A new skate park will open in Bognor Regis following an award of more than £36,000 in the latest round of grants from the new Coast to Capital Business Growth scheme

Five new jobs will be created as result of the skate park opening in the former Oldlands Way warehouse and the facility will, from Saturday 4 October, be a focal point for BMX riding, skateboarding and scooting as the only indoor skate park along the coast between Poole and Eastbourne.


The indoor facility has cost almost £150,000 to design and build with £36,767 being provided from the Coast to Capital programme to The Base Skate Park Community Interest Company, which was given the green light by Arun District Council in July to turn empty commercial premises on the South Cross Industrial Estate into the indoor facility.

Bognor resident Janina Cooper, who came up with the ambitious skate park idea, said the Community Interest Company (a limited company designed for social enterprises that want to use their profits and assets for the public good), was set up in January and the project has received universal support from Bersted Parish Council, Bognor Regis Town Council, West Sussex County Council, Sussex Police and acclaim from local businesses and parents.

"We're delighted to be awarded the Coast to Capital Business Growth Grant which has helped us achieve our goal of creating a safe environment that provides facilities for local young people to enjoy urban sports, whilst working alongside the community and engaging other partnerships to create a sustainable social enterprise," the mother of two said.

"The idea came about in early October last year when myself and another parent were desperate to offer our children somewhere for them to skate when the weather was poor. We also wanted somewhere that offered a place for skaters and their friends to sit and enjoy a coffee. From this need came the idea of The Base and we've not looked back since. We have worked incredibly hard to get this project off the ground and the support from local children to councillors and businesses has been overwhelming.

"It seems remarkable that we've been able to get to this stage where we will officially open at the weekend and are now recruiting for a skate park manager and assistant manager from what was essentially a dream back in October 2013. This has been a wonderful example of a community coming together to achieve great things."

The Business Growth Grants programme is managed by the Coast to Capital LEP, Brighton and Hove City Council and commercial partners and helps local small and medium-sized enterprises expand their businesses by supporting projects such as skills improvement, research and development, and investing in equipment or premises. /more ...

In total, some 120 new jobs are set to be created in in the latest round of grants awarded from the new Coast to Capital Business Growth Grant scheme with eight other companies also receiving a slice of almost £500,000.

Ron Crank, chief executive of Coast to Capital, the local enterprise partnership for Brighton and Hove, Lewes, London Borough of Croydon, the Gatwick Diamond and West Sussex, said the latest round of grants showed how significant a role small and medium sized enterprises had to play in local economic regeneration.

"As a local enterprise partnership concerned with supporting and encouraging local businesses, we are pleased to be able to help companies and groups make a real difference," he said. "These businesses are the drivers of our regional economy so we are more than happy to support them and I encourage others in a similar situation to get in touch with Coast to Capital to see if we can help to achieve their full potential."

The Government's Regional Growth Fund is a £3.2 billion fund designed to help companies in England to grow. So far, £2.6 billion of funding has been allocated to support projects and programmes committed to deliver sustainable jobs and economic growth. Round 5 selected bidders have now been announced. A sixth round is now open and is due to close on 30th September 2014.

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