CAMPAIGNERS for a skate park in Ilkley have finally declared victory - but need a last generous donation within the next fortnight.

After an intensive five months of fundraising within Ilkley and beyond, charity Pipedream has announced it is to commission the building of the park within the next few weeks.

An improved design for the riverside skate park, to stand by Ilkley Rugby Club, will cost £52,000, and the group had pledged to have it built in time for the school summer holidays - but they need to find £5,000 as soon as possible.

Chairman of Pipedream, Ilkley businessman Keith McGregor, said: "The message is 'we're there'. We've also managed to negotiate with specialists and got the total cost of the whole scheme down to around £52,000. We've raised £47,000, so what we've said is that we are going to commission this within the next two weeks."

The original estimates for a concrete skate park was £80,000, but more recent schemes had been estimated to cost from £50,000 to £60,000. Pipedream is delighted with its most recent design.

Mr McGregor said: "The design is absolutely superb. It's an enhanced design. At the last meeting we got all the opinions of the kids, and they said what they would like, so that's what we've done."

He said Pipedream was now looking for help from local businesses or generous donors for the final push which would enable them to go ahead and start the building work.

"We're £5,000 short, so if there are any wealthy people who could help us out, it would be great. We've put a huge effort into getting this done, and we're going to commission it come hell or high water," said Mr McGregor.

Pipedream's latest drive to create a skate park for Ilkley's young people began in the New Year, when the group began to focus on the widely approved new site, and announced it wanted to have the park built in time for youngsters to enjoy in their school holidays.

A previous plan to create an all-concrete park on the Middelton Recreation Ground was rejected, and despite setbacks with opposition to other proposed sites, Pipedream eventually managed to secure the land next to East Holmes Field.

The latest, improved design features ten obstacles for skateboarders and in-line skaters, including ramps, a half-tube, quarter tubes, and other features.

The fundraising campaign has featured a range of events, including collection of old Christmas trees, concerts, and the recent big-prize Easter Draw. Ilkley businesses have also contributed to the appeal, and some residents responded to a challenge to all the town's millionaires to make a £283 donation.

Mr McGregor said Ilkley's children and young people had done a lot of fundraising work behind the scenes, but had been unable to organise a sponsored car wash because insurance costs proved too high for the event.

Anyone who would like to contribute to fundraising can send donations by cheque to Pipedream, PO Box 190, Ilkley, LS29 0WA, or contact Mr McGregor or William Whitaker on (07760) 162866.