Kirky Skatepark gets recognition in Parliament

2.52.26pm GMT Fri 18th Dec 2009

Jo paid tribute to the Kirkintilloch Skatepark Initiative in the House of Commons this week.

In the last debate in the House of Commons before Parliament closed for the Christmas recess, Jo highlighted the creation of Kirkintilloch Skatepark as a "an excellent example of community action".

The new park opened recently after more than six years of planning, and its launch event was held on Monday. Jo paid tribute to Susan Murray, the project co-ordinator for Kirkintilloch Skatepark Initiative, and Alex Baylis, the Chair of the Initiative.

Commenting, Jo said:

"It has been a pleasure to follow the progress of this project for the past six years, and I am thrilled that the park is now in use. Everyone involved in the Kirktintilloch Skatepark Initiative deserves to feel truly proud of what they have achieved. I hope they and other young people in Kirkintilloch are enjoying the park now that it is open."

The text of Jo's tribute to Kirkintilloch Skatepark in the House of Commons appears below.

"The situation is not all doom and gloom, however, and I should like to share an excellent example of community action in Kirkintilloch in my constituency. In 2003, a group of young people decided that they would like to have a skate park in the town. They got together with like-minded people and lobbied politicians, including me - although in 2003 I was standing for the Scottish Parliament. They lobbied MSPs and the council; they raised funds and managed to secure grants of £500,000; they were involved in community activities such as litter picks and gala days to raise their profile. Just a couple of weeks ago, the skate park opened. It has been well used - a healthy activity whereby young people can socialise and learn mutual respect.

"I pay tribute to Susan Murray for driving forward the project, and to Alex Baylis, who is a skater. When he started out on the campaign, he was at school, and in the six years that it has taken to build the park he has gone through university, graduated and set up an increasingly successful band called the Acutones. Without those people and many other volunteers, the park would simply not have been possible."

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Read the speech in the official Hansard report