A RECORD-breaking £7,500 has been raised by local people for Lancaster's new skate park.

It is the largest sum ever raised by the Mayor of Lancster's charity for a local good cause.

And Cllr Eileen Blamire made it the last engagement of her year in office to present the Donate 2sk8' money raised by local people and firms to David Owen, the city's head of leisure services.

"I am delighted that we have raised so much. The great thing is that this project will be relevant for the next 20 years," says Cllr Blamire. "It is great to be able to give something that will be long lasting."

The retiring Mayor says the reason for the overwhelming' support was that building a skate park was a cause people really believed in.

Both Cllr Blamire and Mr Owen thanked individuals and small firms for help with the appeal and said that there were plans to paint the logos of firms and institutions which have given cash to the cause in the new park grounds.

The fund received its biggest single donation from Lancaster's Liquid Nightclub after it held a charity night earlier this month.

Nick Westwell, general manager and former city councillor, presented the very final donation of £2271,91 to the mayor on Monday.

Cllr Blamire says this will not be the last skate park project in the district - there are already plans for one in Morecambe and in a rural part of the district.

And looking back on her year as Mayor, she says: "I have enjoyed it more than I thought, but the post is not the most important thing, it is the contact with the people.

"It has been a great experience meeting people from all over the community and it has helped me to understand what people really want from the council. I will carry that with me in my next post."

May 15, 2003 09:00