Plans to set up a skateboard and BMX park in Sittingbourne have received a major boost.

Swale council’s cabinet members agreed last Wednesday to hand over £200,000 to create the facility on a neglected site behind Halfords on the Mill Way Retail Park in Sittingbourne.

The grant, which is in addition to £55,000 already pledged by the local authority towards the scheme, takes the Sittingbourne Skatepark Fundraising Group nearer to the £350,000 target needed to build the venue, which will be known as The Mill.

The proposed 1.5-acre site was gifted by owners Essential Land to Swale council on the understanding it would be made available for a skatepark.

In turn, the project gained outline planning permission in April last year.

It has been designed to include advanced areas for skateboarders and BMX riders, as well as a street plaza, a cafe and skate shops.

Money has already come from the local authority, councillors’ grants, the group’s own efforts plus £10,000 from housing association AmicusHorizon.

Cllr Mike Whiting (Con) said: “It came to light three years ago when the young people of Sittingbourne, who had been using other sites around the town, requested from the council that they find a home for their skating, and find the money to build the skatepark.

“It has felt like a lifetime but it feels like we are in a good place now.

“We hope to regenerate Sittingbourne for the future – and the future is our young people.”

Leader Cllr Andrew Bowles (Con) said: “We had to make sure it was the best use of council tax money.

“But I have been so impressed with the work the organisation has done. I hope they come from far and wide for this facility.”

Group mentor Dave Green said: “This is really good news. We’ve still got two bids outstanding with Sport England and Garfield Weston Foundation.

“One is for £150,000 the other is £160,000.

“If we get them we’ll have about £500,000 in total so if we get more money we will consider doing other things at the site.

“The original drawing included a climbing wall so we might still like to do that.”

To keep up with The Mill Project’s progress or to make a donation to it via PayPal, visit www.sittingbourneskate.co.uk