COUNCIL bosses have ramped up their plans for a new £174,000 Greenock skatepark and unveiled how it will look once completed.

Today we can reveal the first image of how the Battery Park facility will look like, as Inverclyde Council gets set to present final designs to planning officials.

The new state-of-the-art park, inset, will replace the existing one and will boast new features including ramps, kickers, quarter pipes, steps, rails, banks, raised tables and kerbs.

Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde’s environment and regeneration convener, said: “This is an exciting new development and I am sure one that skateboarders will be looking forward to using.

“The existing one has been well used but it is clear from the plans for the new skatepark that we will be moving to a whole new level. I would like to thank the Inverclyde Skatepark Group for their valuable input to making sure that the new skatepark is an investment we can all be proud of.” Gourock man Martin McShane, who now lives in Inverkip, is chairman of the group and is delighted the council has got its skates on and come up with positive plans.

He said: “It’s everything we could have asked for considering the budget we had. The design company Wheelscape have done a fantastic job.

“The council have also been absolutely fantastic, anything they could have helped with they did.” Councillor Jim Clocherty, vice-convener for regeneration, says that ‘extensive consultation’ was carried out to make sure that the money being invested delivers the kind of facility skaters want.

He said: “I am struck by how engaged and positive the skatepark group have been over this new development and I hope that once the application is through the formal planning process we can get moving on delivering this excellent new facility, which will only add to the first class leisure opportunities on offer Inverclyde already has for residents and for visitors.” The facility has three clear sections — transition, plaza and street — boasting features and obstacles to suit various ability levels.

Key features are linked together in such a way to create a cohesive riding experience, meaning the park can be used as a whole courtesy of long flowing lines linking from various obstacles to the next.

On busier days it can be split into separate areas to cater for the maximum number of users.

The overall cost of the project to Inverclyde Council is £174,000.

Designer Russ Heideman, from Wheelscape, said: “Battery Park skatepark has been a really exciting project to work on.

“From the initial tender stage we have seen the project through to this point in conjunction with our clients Inverclyde Council and with valued input from the Inverclyde Skatepark Group.

“Everyone has been a pleasure to work with and we look forward to getting the new park in the ground.”