A NEW skate park will be built at Clarence Park in Bury as part of a major upgrade of the recreational ground.

Council leaders, in Wednesday’s budget, pledged £150,000 to restore the skate park at Clarence Park, which has held Green Flag status for the last 16 years.

The skate park was closed last year due to vandalism, and a wider public consultation was then launched to see what local residents and park users wanted from the park in the years to come.

This attracted more than 600 responses, with many saying they wanted the skate park to return.

A masterplan is now being drawn up to include much wider regeneration of the park, with improved sports facilities and landscaping.

Cllr Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, said: “We are committed to making Bury carbon neutral and ensuring our borough is clean and green, which is a crucial part of our Bury 2030 strategy to keep the borough a great place in which to live, work and relax.

“The recent consultation demonstrated how much Clarence Park is valued and how it could be improved, and I am heartened by how many people said they would be willing to play their part in maintaining it through various ‘friends’ groups.

“We will be investing in Clarence Park on a scale not seen for many years, so my advice is ‘watch this space’ for further details.”