Dawlish News

A wave of Lottery cheer is washing over South Devon with £160,000 going to two good causes by popular vote.

The Dawlish Action for Youth Skate Park and Torbay Disabled Sailing Association have each been awarded £80,000 in TV voting for the People's Millions.The Dawlish skate project for a street-styled skate park was pitted against a sporting scheme for youngsters in Bude.

Designed by Dawlish youngsters who set up their own committee, the park will boast a half pipe, benches, steps and rails and will replicate a typical street scene.

It will be built on land donated by Teignbridge Council, near the football club on Sandy Lane.

Dawlish Council has also donated £20,000 towards the project and the Big Lottery grant includes VAT, which tots it up to £94,000 making a grand total of £114, 000 for the scheme.

The project is the brainchild of Dawlish police community support officer Gary Cairns who has worked closely with Dawlish Action for Youth.

Mr Cairns said: "We are absolutely delighted we won. It was very nerve-wracking and I kept thinking I hope we have done enough and I have encouraged enough people to vote. There was tough competition from the Cornwall project too.

He added: "People have been stopping me in the street today to tell me they voted for us so it really is thanks to the people of Dawlish.

"We are calling it the plaza because the youngsters wanted a street scene to skate in. All the decisions have been made by them and they have full control over how to spend the money."

It is hoped construction work on the floodlit plaza will begin in the New Year.

Teignbridge Council spokesman Tim Borrett said: "We were more than happy to provide the land for the youth centre and skate park to be built on.

"Our congratulations go to Action for Youth, and to all of the people of Dawlish who have supported this project and worked so hard to secure the funding.