WORK will finally start on a permanent home for Oxford’s skaters after more than two decades of campaigning.

Builders are set to move in this month on Meadow Lane, East Oxford, with skaters hoping to use the £300,000 park by September.

Oxford Wheels Project chairman Jack Richens, who is now 32 and has led the campaign for over a decade, said it was about time work started.

He said: “It has been 12 years since I got involved with this. It’s been so long my knees have given way and I don’t know if I can even skate anymore.”

The Oxford Wheels Project submitted plans for a set of concrete ramps in May, after years of problems over planning issues, leases and fundraising.

There were then issues with the Environment Agency, which dropped its objections following discussions in December.

Skaters cheered in January as city councillors finally gave planning permission for the park to be built.

Mr Richens said: “Things have been moving swiftly since then, the designs are in the final stages of planning and it is looking good.

“There is still a lot to do and a lot of ground work to be done but, fingers crossed, work will begin this month.”

Skaters in the city currently use wooden ramps on the site, which were put in place in 2001 and orginally meant to stay for only three years.

The land has been leased to the group by the council for 25 years.

Soil being removed from the site will be transported to Blackbird Leys Park and used for an upgrade of the play area due to get under way soon.

Mr Richens said: “We have now raised around £265,000 and we would ideally like to get up to about £280,000 so we are still looking for local businesses to get involved. But we have contingencies if that doesn’t happen.

“It is really exciting, the plans are unique. They include a bowl area like the ones you see in America, street sections and park sections from famous sites around the world and bits from DIY parks which became popular in Europe.

“Plus we’ll be paying homage to certain elements from Oxford itself.”

He added: “Oxford has a great skating heritage and that will be reflected in the design. This is going to be a unique park for the whole skating community.”

Residents in Botley are currently campaigning for skating facilities in the Louie Memorial Playing Field and work is imminent on a smaller £60,000 park in Frys Hill, Greater Leys.