Aiming to reduce their use of single-use plastic, users at a recreation park are looking to install a drinking fountain.

On a daily basis, there may be more than 100 youngsters and young adults using the Monmouth Skatepark and BMX track on Rockfield Road, and during school holidays this number rises significantly.

The park has become a tremendous asset to the town, borne out by the amount of young people who use the facility on a regular basis.

However the Monmouth Off Street Project (MOSP) is facing a bill for £13,000 to supply a water fountain to the site.

So the group were very fortunate to be given a head start by Waitrose, after being selected several months ago for their Regional Community Budget which covers the 15 stores in the local region.

On Thursday 20th June, Team Manager Rhiannon Moon and representatives from the store paid a visit to the skatepark to present a cheque for £900 to users and directors of Monmouth Off Street Project.

The money will kickstart the fundraising towards providing a drinking fountain at the park, which will reduce the amount of plastic bottles that go into landfill as well as the amount of litter at the site. The young people will be encouraged to re-use their water bottles and refill from the drinking fountain.

Shirley Hughes, Director of MOSP said: “We are very grateful to Rhiannon and Waitrose Monmouth for nominating us for the Regional Community Budget, and the money will be well spent and go towards the £13,000 that is required to get water to the site, install the drinking fountain etc.

“We value the continuous support local businesses have made to our skatepark, and this will now allow us to develop the facility further.”