Malton Town Council 'withdraws funding' from skate park
Campaigners say the future of the iconic half-pipe and park is under threat.
Campaigners are warning that funding is being withdrawn from Malton and Norton's skatepark.
A movement to restore the half-pipe and park there has received recognition from around the world, including a message of support from US pro-skater Tony Hawk.
Ryan Swain is from Malton and is behind the campaign to restore the park, and has reached over 1,100 signatures with a petition: "I feel deflated, saddened and disgraced that Malton Town Council have withdrawn all of their funding and support for the Malton and Norton skatepark.
"Both towns use the facilities, and therefore both towns should take responsibility for it. There was another option that was put on the table by Malton Town Councillor Martin Brampton, who is also the Chairman of Malton and Norton Community Partnership Projects; that was to make the restoration an MNAP project.
"However, that was voted down as well. All of the responsibility now lies with Norton Town Council, so the fate of the half-pipe and the skatepark lies with them.
"We have been outnumbered and had staggering amounts of messages from local companies, businesses and developers offering their services for free to revamp the skatepark.
"The point of the campaign is to save the half-pipe, as it's so iconic and it's the only one in the whole of the north of England. The Olympics are coming up in Tokyo in July, and three of the five members of the skateboarding Team GB team use half-pipes.
"One in particular is 12 year old pro-skater Sky Brown; who is to say that if we restore this half-pipe that Malton and Norton could be home to the next future child prodigy like Sky Brown?
"We've had celebrity support from world-famous Tony Hawk; BMX superstar Jamie Bestwick (14 time gold medallist in the BMX games) and support from comedian Rory Bremner. We've also got professional companies nationally and internationally.
"There's no excuse for not getting this done. We have plans, we have donations, we have the funding and we have the materials to carry out the job. We're doing this cost-effectively and in some cases cost-free".