SPECIALIST consultants have been brought in to advise on plans for Highworth's skate park.

Plans for a skatepark in Highworth have been on the drawing board for years, but now specialist skatepark builder GBH Engineering has been brought in to advise on turning the plans into reality.

Town councillor Steve Weisinger said: "GBH has already surveyed a couple of sites for us, and it is coming back to the town, hopefully in the next few weeks, to survey a third site and advise us on which one would be most practical.

"It is an expert at building skateparks and it has also been advising us on how to apply for funding from the Government."

The park will cost around £18,000 to build. Over the years the Highworth skaters have raised around £6,500 through activities such as sponsored car washes, and there have been pledges of a further £2,000.

Coun Weisinger said: "Obviously the town council can't afford to pay all of the rest, but I understand that there are quite a few Government grants available for this sort of thing and as GBH is involved in skateparks up and down the country it knows who to apply to."

He said: "Once it has surveyed the final site then we will have some firm proposals which can be discussed at the next leisure and amenities committee meeting, and hopefully things can start to move from there.

"We have raised the hopes of the skaters before and they have ended up with nothing, so now I think we owe it to them to do everything we can to ensure that they have somewhere to practice."

The Highworth Sk8ers have been campaigning for a skatepark for several years, and are also looking for a new leader after their previous chairman, Rob Mountain, left Highworth. His departure was a double blow as his wife, Julie, acted as club secretary.

Group member Sandra Cox said: "We are all very committed to the appeal, but no-one feels able to take on Rob's role. We need someone with natural leadership qualities. Whoever takes it on won't be on their own. We are all here to give support."

Anyone who is interested in leading the group, or becoming secretary, should call Sandra on (01793) 766232.