A new youth shelter has been installed at a skate park in Blaenau Ffestiniog following a little help from the Police and Fire and Rescue Service.

The skate park, which is funded and maintained by Ffestiniog Town council, is an important facility for some of the community’s youths.

Sgt Iwan Lloyd Jones, South Gwynedd Safer Neighbourhood Team; “This project was brought to our attention by Ffestiniog town council who had received a letter from a group of youths asking for a shelter and other improvements to be made to the park.   The youths had raised some of the funds themselves, and Ffestiniog Town council were also contributing.   It was inspiring to see the youths taking the initiative to improve their environment, and therefore it was felt that it was a worthy project to support”

Funding was made available through the Arson Reduction Team, a collaboration between North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.   A number of events were held in the area during the spring and early summer to highlight the dangers of deliberate fire setting, in particular grass and gorse fires.   Funding was made available in order to support local projects and initiatives that provide activities for younger people.

Kevin Jones, Business Education and Arson Reduction Team Manager says “Part funding the shelter at the skate park was one element of the multi-agency “Dawns Glaw” collaboration.   This initiative has been extremely successful, resulting in a  significant reduction in the number of grass fires we have attended this year in the Ffestiniog area.    The shelter is something the young people from the local area had asked for, giving them some protection from the rain when they are using the skate park.   Its pleasing to see the young people enjoying the facilities and the shelter can only enhance the experience.”

For details of an awareness Campaign by North Wales Police, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and partners in how grass and mountain fires across Wales are being tackled visit http://www.north-wales.police.uk/news-and-appeals/launch-of-deliberate-fires-consequences-campaign-at-blaenau-ffestiniog.aspx  )