BACKERS of a project to create a world-class skate park in Malvern are undaunted by a setback over a major funding bid.

The TG’s Project applied for a grant of £3,845,000 from the Government’s MyPlace fund to help build the park in memory of teenage skater Tim Greenwood, who died of leukaemia in 2003.

Organisers have been working with Worcestershire County Council’s youth service on the project. They hope the council will allow them to site the centre on the former BMX track off Townsend Way.

But this week they were dismayed to get a letter from the council’s community partnership confirming that, at this time, it cannot endorse the TG’s Project application because of uncertainty over the future of the land.

County spokesman Sarah-Jayne Butcher said: “There is uncertainty over the future of the land TG’s want to build their skate park facilities on and consideration into this land needs to be discussed further with county councillors at cabinet.

“At this stage Worcestershire County Council will not be able to endorse the bid until it has discussed fully the possibilities and implications of this land disposal.”

She said that there was no date yet set for the cabinet-level discussion.

Ian Forrester of TG’s Project said they would continue to work with the county council to make the skate centre a reality.

He said project trustees were “disappointed” to get the letter, but remained “undaunted” over this “minor setback”.

“The project is still alive,” he said.

“We’re not going to let this stop us and we’re definitely going to keep talking to the county council in a bid to try to solve this problem.”

He said supporters had gathered more than 1,000 signatures on a petition, which they hope to present to the council.

Councillor Penelope Morgan, a long-term supporter of the project, said she would continue to press the cabinet to discuss the future of the land.

She added: “This is an ideal place to have a 21st century facility for the community.”