Ref. 20087-23A TEMPORARY skate park will be opened next week and give youngsters the chance to prove the town needs a permanent facility.

Based in the car park of the Link Centre it will be the only site of its kind in Swindon.

And admission will be free to anyone aged 13 to 19 across the town.

Councillor Garry Perkins (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) says if this summer is a success it will pave the way for the council funding a proper skating facility.

The site will use equipment such as ramps and half pipes that were built by youngsters in the West Swindon Area Youth Team last year when a similar site was open only to West Swindon skaters.

From Wednesday, July 30, skaters will be able to use ramps in the afternoons and evenings, with official opening hours decided depending on demand. It will open for the whole of August.

Eric Smith, 41, of the Swindon Community Skate Project based in Haydon Wick, said: "It's a great idea and hopefully it will prove very successful.

"Last year a lot of town centre and Haydon Wick skaters felt excluded because it was really meant for West Swindon youngsters, and they felt that they were not allowed to use it."

Although no admission charge will be made, anyone using the park will have to have a parental consent form and wear a helmet.

Supervision will be provided by Link Centre staff and the West Swindon Neighbourhood Team.

Mr Perkins said that he can understand residents who do not want a skate park near their homes, but believed that the Link Centre was the ideal location.

"This is well situated, but it is not just for West Swindon children, it's for the whole of the town," he said.

"This can prove the need for a skate park in Swindon and convince the doubters the town needs this service, as long as it is not abused," the councillor added.

Alan Bailey, Swindon Council's community education manager said: "This is essentially a re-establishment of last year's skate park using last year's equipment.

"There was a lot of demand last year and we are expecting that to be repeated this time around," he said.

"The onus is on the young people to prove there is a demand for a permanent facility and that it won't be a magnet for vandalism but they did that last year and I'm sure they will do so again," Mr Bailey said.

To find out details on the web, go to: www.swindoncommunitysk8project.co.uk.