RESIDENTS have urged Addingham Parish Council to act on youngsters' requests for a skate park in the village.

A delegation of four young people attended the annual parish council meeting to remind members of plans to build a park which were mooted a year ago.

But the plans never came to fruition, and now residents are urging the council to ensure something is done.

One resident said: "We just go from year to year saying yes, something should be done, and really it is time it is done."

Coun Alan Jerome replied: "It would be a nice idea that within the next 12 months, we have actually achieved a skate boarding facility for young people.

"Twenty years ago we had a similar request, and we felt it was a fad. Twenty years later it is still here and it is right and appropriate that we are seen to do something positive."

Youngsters Oliver Strudwick, his brother, Edward, James Moreman and Sam Jacomb attended the meeting, saying they were speaking on behalf of "three-quarters of the youth of the village".

Fourteen-year-old Oliver said: "A lot of the time we are actually on the street skate boarding, and a lot of people don't like that. Skate boarding makes a lot of noise and can be considered vandalism, when we 'wax' kerbs or damage benches.

"But the nearest park is in Otley, and we have to take a bus there every time we want to go skating."

He said the youngsters would like a site central to the village, and suggested near the Memorial Hall. He added that they were prepared to help fund raise for the facility, and had the backing of their parents, who would assist with the project.

Until recently the children had been encouraged to use the primary school's playground. However due to continuing damage to the benches and furniture in the grounds, headteacher Jane Drake has reluctantly banned the skaters from the area.

She said: "We very much want to support the young people in their venture, and have a lot of sympathy for them."

But, she added, the children skating in the playground had been using the benches as ramps. They had splintered the wood, creating a danger for the children who used the seats.

With the lighter nights the problem had increased, costing the school hundreds of pounds, and Mrs Drake has said the skaters are no longer welcome on the playground.

Chairman of the parish council, Gordon Campbell said that one of the reasons the original plans for a skate park fell through was the expense, and lack of support from parents.

He suggested that if the parish council could find the funds for the materials, the parents and children could contribute the labour. "We are quite happy to listen to anything you bring forward as long as it has substance and it is affordable."

He added: "We have to accept that skate boarding is part of the youth culture of today, so we have to cater for them.

"The problem is when the skate boarders were on the First School site, the school prevented the noise from going very far because it blocked it. Now they have knocked the school down and we are getting complaints, and we have to be reasonable."

The council agreed to pursue the plans, and to discuss them further at the next meeting.