THE problem of finding a permanent site for a skateboard park in Devizes could be overcome by investing in a mobile facility which would tour the district.

Council officers believe that residents who would object to a permanent skatepark close to their homes might not be quite so averse to a supervised mobile facility two days a week.

Although skateboarders made good use of a mobile park at Easter, they were not entirely convinced it was a long-term solution.

More than 60 enthusiasts, aged from five to 25, turned up at the car park at Devizes Leisure Centre to use the equipment, which had been hired by a partnership including Community First, Kennet District Council, Wiltshire County Council and North Wiltshire District Council.

The skatepark day was organised by Helie Franklin from Community First and cost the partnership £750, which did not include the cost of the three district council officers who supervised the event from 10am to 4pm.

Mrs Franklin said: "It went extremely well and was working at full capacity the whole time.

"The maximum that could use the equipment at any one time was 40, so the youngsters had to queue for their turn.

"What surprised me was how quiet and thoughtful they were. When they were on the equipment they said nothing, just concentrated on what they were doing.

"I was impressed with their mature attitude."

The skateboarders were asked to fill in a questionnaire giving their views on the equipment. They were also asked if they thought a mobile would be the answer to the problems Devizes has faced over finding a permanent skatepark site.

The town council has been trying for many years to site a skatepark in the town. Its preferred location was on the Devizes School campus, close to the Southbroom Centre Youth Club and the leisure centre, but the school governors vetoed the idea.

A scheme to locate it on The Green, close to the children's play area, was also scuppered when residents backed by MP Michael Ancram opposed it.

The town council finally built a skatepark on a piece of land at Hillworth Park, but it was used out of hours and was the target for vandals.

Resident Bill Richardson succeeded in getting a High Court ruling ordering the council to remove the equipment and return the land to its previous state.

The equipment has since been in store. The town council investigated the possibility of siting a skatepark at the Tom Doyle Memorial Playing Fields in Green Lane, but a survey by the acoustics expert used by Mr Richardson found that the impact on local residents would be too great.

Councillors are now looking again at the idea of having a mobile to serve the district.

Mrs Franklin said: "The equipment is moved around on its own vehicle with a mobile shop, toilet and computer aboard. The cost of the package we used on Sunday is about £43,000, but we could settle for a simpler set-up for a lot less, say £20,000.

"The cost of providing this could be shared among all local councils, including the parishes outside Devizes that could have it visit one day a week. The cost of staffing it could be covered by a membership fee for each user.

"Elsewhere in the country such a system is in use, with children paying up to £3 a year for membership and £1 to use the equipment."

She said the initial response from the skateboarders had been mixed. "The immediate feedback was, we've had a great day today, but what's the possibility of getting something like this permanently? They have been let down so many times in the past."

The responses from the questionnaire will be collated by Wiltside Skateboarding Network. If there is strong support, the partnership said it would try to raise the capital for a mobile.