Young skaters in the town say they are excited by the project, as there is currently nowhere in the town to go.

Nathan Stacey, 18, of Moredon, has been skating for two-and-a-half years, but says there are few facilities. He has even been banished from his own street.

"Everywhere we skate we get kicked off," he said.

His experience is familiar to many of Swindon's frustrated skaters, who feel they have no choice other than to practise their tricks on steps and homemade ramps on the streets.

Dean Holden, 16, of Haydon Wick, said: "Skateboarders have a bad reputation but all they are doing is the sport they love.

"If we had an indoor skate park it would show how passionate we are about what we do."

Nathan and Dean are just two of a large number of skaters who gather at the Orbital Shopping Park most evenings to take advantage of the smooth surfaces and shelter offered by the larger stores.

All of them are united in the belief that skaters from all over town would be willing to pay an admission fee for entry to a high quality indoor park.

Gary Barber, of Haydon Wick, said: "With the number of skaters in the town it's ridiculous we haven't got one already."