A HIGHWORTH councillor believes he is on the verge of a breakthrough in the town's long- running skatepark saga.

Coun Steve Weisinger has invited a firm specialising in skateparks to assess several sites in the town.

Experts from Poole-based GBH Engineering will also be offering advice on how to get Government funding.

Councillors and skaters are now hoping to repeat the success of Swindon's new park, which is currently taking shape at the Oasis Leisure Centre.

Coun Weisinger, who chairs the town council's leisure committee, said: "The project has never been moving faster than it is now.

"I'm encouraged by the success of the Oasis scheme and am sure we can repeat that in Highworth.

"I am waiting to hear back from the firm, then I will give a report to the council and consult with the skaters.A skate park would be a vital facility for us as I can't see it going out of fashion."

He also hopes that providing youngsters with better facilities will reduce the kind of nuisance behaviour and vandalism that has plagued the town.

Engineers at GBH are compiling a report after visiting four possible sites three on the Recreation Ground and one at the Crane Furlong play area.

Crane Furlong was suggested by the town council two years ago, but was rejected by the skaters themselves, who wanted somewhere central.

If chosen, the site is likely to be controversial some nearby residents have already complained to the town council, saying skaters would cause a disturbance.

Sue Mitchener, the manager of GBH, said: "We have put in 100 skate parks across the country, many of which have been in small parishes which are similar to Highworth.

"To make a site work you must ensure it is in the right location, and make sure the whole community is involved.

"We always work with young people to get the design right." She said wheeled-sports areas can have a dramatic effect on anti-social behaviour.

"We had a report from one area which showed petty crime had fallen by 80 per cent after a park was built," she said.

The Highworth Skaters group has been trying to build a park for several years.

Youngsters have so far raised about £8,000 by holding sponsored skateathons.

The minimum cost of a park has been put at £15,000.