AN URGENT plea for skateboard equipment has been issued by council chiefs as they race to set up a temporary skate park in Chippenham for as much of the summer holidays as possible.

Last week the Bridge Centre agreed to host a temporary skatepark during the school holidays to replace the one closed last month in Monkton Park following a critical report by the local government ombudsman.

But North Wiltshire district councillors and officials are having their work cut out to find ramps at such short notice. They have even looked to European providers and are now putting out an appeal for help.

"Most companies have rented out all their equipment for the summer already," said Coun Ruth Coleman.

"We are still chasing it even with European manufacturers. And we're putting out a call for anybody with movable equipment to get in touch. Some youth clubs have ramps."

The council has ruled out moving the ramps from Monkton Park because they are too big and need permanent footings.

Schools broke up this week for the summer holidays raising concerns that young skaters with plenty of spare time on their hands will be use streets, car parks and other open spaces for their sport unless a replacement for the Monkton Park ramps is found.

Bridge Centre youth worker Sue Rowland said she was always worried the skate park would not take shape until part way through the holidays.

"The council needs to buy equipment and we in theory can provide a place for it to go, but these things take time and we are already at the start of the holidays," she said.

The option to use the Bridge Centre was suggested at a special meeting last Wednesday where skaters, parents and residents of Monkton Park joined district and town councillors, police officers and youth workers to talk about temporary and permanent sites.

Coun Coleman, who chaired the meeting, said everyone had been determined to work together to provide the young people with somewhere to practise skating as soon as possible.

She said the district council was grateful to the Bridge Centre for its offer of help.

"We have been working with people for a number of years to get the right skate park," she said. "This time it is even more important to get it right but we need to move very quickly.

"Young people, who haven't heard that Chippenham skate park has closed, are already turning up and now have nowhere to skate. We need to get on with it."

The Monkton Park skate park was closed suddenly last month when a local government ombudsman found the council guilty of maladministration over the location of the skate park.

The ombudsman upheld residents' complaints about the council's handling of the siting of the skate park and the worries over noise nuisance.

A number of permanent locations for a replacement skate park were suggested at last week's meeting, and these will be among the options due to be discussed today at a meeting of the council's executive. Sites suggested included Island Park, Lovers Lane, The Ham and the underpass in New Road.

A new idea is to provide a purpose-built, indoor skate park but the council has warned skaters that whatever happens a permanent skate park will not be provided for at least a year.

Coun Coleman said: "If everything falls into place there will be something at the Bridge Centre within a short period of time. But as for a long term solution it is not going to be quick and will go into next year's budget and then it will be dependent on other demands on the budget."

The district council intends to apply for funding from Sport England and other grant agencies.

"There is a lot of work to do yet but we do want to work with everyone in the community and consider everyone's needs," added Coun Coleman.

"There are lots of suggestions on the table and we will be making sure the right site is chosen and the youngsters have something for the interim period."

Meantime there is another solution for skateboarders with nowhere to go.

Co-ordinators of the Splash holiday play project and First Wiltshire bus company have agreed to take youngsters aged ten to 16 from Chippenham to Bath and back under the Splash discount travel scheme, so they can use the ramps in Victoria Park, Bath.

On production of a Splash travel card, users will be allowed to travel for half the normal child's fare from today to September 3, from Monday to Friday, and from 8.30am to 6.30pm.

Travel cards are now available free from the reception of the district council's Monkton Park offices, as well as normal Splash outlets including the library, youth centres and the Olympiad.