THE New Year is to see an ambitious drive to transform dreams of a skate park for Ilkley's youth into reality by Easter.

Members of the skate park steering group Pipedream's finance committee, William Whitaker and Hugh Brumfitt, are heading fundraising efforts as the group aims to get together the £55,000 needed for the park before April.

Pipedream recently gained the backing of Ilkley Parish Council to build a skate park at its newly-preferred riverside site beside Ilkley Rugby Club, New Brook Street.

Mr Whitaker, managing director of Skipton-based Whitakers Chocolates Ltd, says that although the park has not yet been granted planning permission by Bradford Council, they feel sure there will be no objection to using the site.

He said: "We would like to have it built for Easter. Through pledges so far, and donations we know are coming, we have around £2,000."

A calendar of fundraising events will be produced in the coming weeks, and is hoped to include events which will see the young people of the town helping bring together the money for their new facilities.

The organisation also plans to set up donation collection points, where members of the community will be able to contribute to the skate park, and they will also be asking for help from local businesses.

The first fundraising exercise will be a Christmas tree collection in Ilkley on January 4 and 5. Pipedream volunteers will be able to take away residents' old Christmas trees in exchange for a £10 donation.

And any members of the community who would like to support efforts to provide a skate park for Ilkley's young people can make donations towards the skate park, by dropping in a cheque made payable to Pipedream to the Ilkley Gazette office, 8 Wells Road, Ilkley (fill in our coupon below, especially if you would like an acknowledgement of your donation).

Pipedream teamed up with Bradford Council's Department of Arts, Heritage and Leisure to submit a planning application for the riverside site. The site was selected after previous sites - including a tennis court at the Middleton Recreation Ground - met with local opposition.

The organisation previously gained planning permission for a fixed concrete skate park further out of town at the recreation ground, but this was later rejected, because of the high costs involved, and because the course could not be altered once in place.

The latest plan includes a number of ramps constructed from galvanised steel and specially-designed artificial surfacing for skate parks, on a porous tarmacadam. The application specifies that the park is intended for daylight use only.

Provided planning permission is gained shortly, Pipedream hopes to have the skate park installed in time for young people to enjoy the start of the warmer weather this year.

l Anyone who would like to have their Christmas tree taken off their hands in exchange for a £10 donation, can call (07760) 162866 or (07801) 340384 between 10am and 6pm.