GoFundMe appeal to build Rush skatepark near A38 Moreton Valance

Plans have been unveiled for the restoration of Rush skatepark.

One of Europe’s biggest indoor facilities of its kind, it opened at Brimscombe Port in 2013 and was extremely popular with youngsters and hosted dozens of competitions.

It closed in August last year when its tenancy with Stroud District Council ran out and the authority prepared to start work on the £2.9 million port redevelopment which involved the demolition of industrial buildings at the site.

Now a charitable organisation has been formed - Rush Sports Community Trust CIO - which is raising funds for a new venue.

A large plot of land has been identified for the site off the A38 at Putloe near Moreton Valence close to junction 13 of the M5.

If planning permission is approved, the new venue would be around three times bigger than the previous centre.

There are also plans for new additions including a dedicated area for beginners and children.

The trust has two years to get planning permission and is appealing for donations to fund the application work through a GoFundMe page.

“We have an an option on this land but we need £20,000 as soon as possible and around £200,000 for all the planning processes," said Debbie Bird of the trust CIO

"The cost of the land will be a seven figure sum and the build will be in the tens of millions.

"We are confident that we have a strong team to get this done but we would be nowhere without the donations we have already received.

"The funds have got us to the point where we are now.

“This has been a lot of work with legal agreements made and we have been working on this since before Christmas.

“The skatepark would still be located in the Stroud district but also very handy for Gloucester, Cheltenham, Bristol, Birmingham and more.

“But we still need people's help, this is money is needed to get us through the planning stages."

Contribute to the appeal at bit.ly/3Ql6JSC

For more on the skatepark see bit.ly/3JuSqZy