A long-awaited BMX and skate park has been held up by red tape.

Bosses at Legacy XS project have now vowed to get their skates on and construction work should begin before spring.

Raring to go - LegacyXS members have already raised £130,000 Picture: DAVE HENDERSON

It was initially hoped the centre in the South Benfleet playing fields would be created by the end of last year following an amazing fundraising effort by youngsters who gathered £130,000.

Project leader Peter Hillman is disappointed at the delay, but believes young people could be using the facility by the summer.

He said: "We are just about to sign the lease for the site and have now got all the documentation from planning.

"It's the legal stuff that has been holding us up, we've been waiting for the lawyers to sort out all the issues, to dot the i's and cross all the t's.

"The thing is with building work you can measure how long things are going to take - but you never have any idea how long lawyers are going to take to release papers."

Legacy XS project team, based at Benfleet's St George's church, have plans for the quarter-of-an-acre complex to include a place to skateboard, ride BMX's and roller-skate.

Any individuals or companies who could donate goods, funds or services to the project please contact the LegacyXS project office 01268 792088 or email admin@legacyweb.org

Published Monday January 5, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Echo