Ref. 25190-07A PARISH council is to ask local children to raise money for a new skateboard park despite having more than £100,000 in the bank.

Shrivenham Parish councillors have voted to back the principle of a skatepark in the village following a campaign by a local skater.

Twelve-year-old Matthew Boobyer, who lives in High Street, collected nearly 300 signatures in support of the project.

"It's great news," said Matthew.

"All the skaters will think it's brilliant," he said.

But while supporters of the plan welcomed the decision, they were dismayed by comments from councillor Stuart Spencer, who said: "It is likely skaters could be asked to raise funds for parts of the project themselves."

The council recently made £120,000 selling a piece of disused land.

Matthew's dad, David Boobyer, who presented the petition to councillors this week, said: "The council has ample assets to pay for this project. Asking the skaters to raise money themselves just stinks.

"Councillors should put their money where their mouth is and do what the children want."

But Mr Spencer said: "Even if we have the money, we must spend it wisely."

The council is keen to replace the windows in the memorial Hall at a cost of £80,000.

Mr Spencer added that asking skaters to raise as much money as they could towards the park would be a tangible demonstration of their commitment.

The council is likely to apply for a grant from the Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association to cover the cost of the skatepark, estimated at £28,000.

Council chairman Peter Saunders admitted it could be some time before the park was built, but said councillors would pursue the plan as quickly as possible.

The next council meeting will be held on Monday, September 8.

Presenting the petition to the council, Mr Boobyer said: "Local children feel there's nothing to do around here and are getting fed up with getting told off by people when they make their own amusements."

Frustrated skaters have taken to using the steps of the village's Memorial Hall and church as a makeshift skatepark, which Mr Boobyer warned was dangerous.

One skater recently broke his leg while skating over the steps.

At a meeting of the Barrington Trust, which owns the recreation ground on which the skatepark is likely to be built, concerns were raised about the possibility of an invasion of youths from surrounding areas.

Councillors, sitting as trustees, eventually voted to back the proposal "in principle, and subject to further investigations".