A world-renowned skateboarder will be training volunteers in Kesgrave ahead of the launch of a new school holiday pop-up skatepark in the town.

Ipswich Star: Skateboarder Denham Hill, who will be training volunteers in Kesgrave as skateboard instructors. Picture: DENHAM HILLSkateboarder Denham Hill, who will be training volunteers in Kesgrave as skateboard instructors. Picture: DENHAM HILL (Image: Archant)

Kesgrave Town Council has secured funding from Suffolk Coastal District Council’s holiday grant scheme, which will enable the council to launch a temporary skate park in the grounds of one of the town’s schools during the spring school half-term using mobile skatepark equipment it had previously acquired.

A number of volunteers have already agreed to help run the sessions, with one more still being sought by the town council.

Now, the volunteers will complete a two-day skateboard coaching course at the beginning of April, instructed by Denham Hill – a freestyle skateboarder among the top 20 in the world.

A spokeswoman from Kesgrave Town Council said: “Kesgrave Town Council recognises that a mobile skate park will provide a safe environment for children and young people.

“It gives them access to a safe, designated space to pursue this activity, which will also give parents peace of mind.”

The training course is being held on April 6 and 7 by SK8 Safe – a coaching course backed by the national governing body Skateboard England.

It is understood to be the first skateboard coaching course of its kind to be held in East Anglia, which the town council said it hoped would help the sport develop in the region.

Skatepark provision has been a long-running issue in Kesgrave, with petitions for a dedicated skatepark having begun more than 15 years ago when a group of then high-school pupils launched a petition.

The town council spokeswoman said: “The town council acknowledges that without a designated skatepark during the busy school spring half term holiday break, skateboarders may make use of other terrain in the community.

“The town council wants to encourage participation in action sports like skateboarding in order to assist children and young people to keep healthy and physically fit.

“This will be the first project and hopefully, subject to funding and volunteers coming forward, there may be more sessions in the future.”

Currently, skateboarders have to use the nearest parks in Ipswich and Woodbridge.