By Sarah Newstead

Last updated 05:34, Friday, 25 July 2008

AN ASPATRIA schoolboy has been the driving force behind an £83,000 park revamp aiming to keep the town’s youth off the streets.

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12-year-old Luke Kershaw and the Friends of Memorial Park are behind new plans for a large-scale refit and refurbishment of the St Mungo’s play area.

The Beacon Hill School pupil has carried out surveys amongst other young people in the town to discover their dream play equipment. He also lobbied Aspatria town council for their backing at a meeting last week. Luke said: “This new play area will help keep young people off the streets – they can be in danger of accidents and this will give them somewhere to be.”

Christine Mitchell, chairman of the Friends group, said the desperate need for facilities for youngsters in Aspatria sparked the campaign which launched last year.

“This play equipment has been here for 20 years or more,” she said.

“We have our problems with young people like every small town, but as a general rule they are pretty well-behaved. It will be nice for young people in the town to have something to feel proud of.”

Luke used the information in the surveys to select a scheme tendered by SMP Playgrounds, which includes a Nexus climbing frame, a zip line slide and a surf wobble board. It will also see equipment already at the park refurbished.

Christine added: “We’ve tried to make it challenging and the whole idea is that the young people can interact with each other in a safe environment. It is to be suitable for all abilities too.”

The group has raised around £26,000 so far, and is awaiting the outcome of Big Lottery Fund and Children in Need bids due to be returned next month. But they are still in need of pledges to meet their fundraising totals. The plans are intended to complement the park which has tennis courts, a bowling green and is lined with Lime trees to commemorate the men of Aspatria who died in the two world wars. Anyone who is interested in making a donation towards the park should call Christine Mitchell on 016973 22554. Wigton’s park was awarded around £50,000 of lottery funding this week as part of the “Play for Real” project to increase play opportunities for children and young people.