YOUNG people are asking Whitchurch town council to provide them with a long promised skatepark to give them something to do in their free time.
The problem of a lack of facilities for youths in the town was highlighted at a meeting between young people, youth workers, councillors and police at Centre North East.
And the skatepark idea is being backed by police, the town council and the headmaster of Sir John Talbot’s Technology College.
Brendan Chan 13, who lives in Whitchurch, said: ”We have nowhere to go, everywhere we go we are kicked off or people call the police. The council should give us something to do.
“A skatepark would be used for anything with wheels - bikes, skateboards, scooters or roller blades.”
Around four years ago there was a plan to build a skatepark on the Jubilee Park, but this was ditched due to objections, and an alternative site was suggested at Sir John Talbot’s Technology College - but this scheme also failed to get off the ground.
There is £16,000 in a Next Generation Youth bank account which was set up to help build the original skatepark, and Mike Ralph, treasurer of NGY, said he could see no problem with the money being used for a new scheme.
“NGY members are still active and would be positive about any new plans for a skatepark,” he said.
“It is nice to know the town council is behind it. We are in a deprived area in terms of facilities for kids, and I would like to see them involved in the design.”
Malcolm Roddy, head of Sir John Talbot’s Technology College said: “I am in favour of anything that gives young people in the town somewhere to go.”
He said a site near the town in the corner of the school field had previously been identified, but added that any decision would have to be made by Shropshire Council.
Whitchurch Mayor Cllr Peggy Mullock was at the meeting and said she is in favour of a skate park at Sir John Talbot’s Technology College.
“We agreed to see the headmaster at SJT and see the site he is suggesting and go from there,” she said.
She added that grants would have to be applied for to fund the scheme, which could cost around £20,000.
Whitchurch police officer Karena Evans also fully backed the idea.
She said: “It is what the youngsters have been wanting for ages, it would be a really positive venue for them. There is not a lot else for them to do in Whitchurch.”