THE row over the skateboard park in Hillworth Park, Devizes, is unlikely to be resolved until next year.

Hillworth Road resident Bill Richardson, whose home is 30 metres away from the skateboard park, is suing the park's owners Devizes Town Council claiming the skateboard park is a nuisance.

A two day trial took place at Bath County Court last week but the case was not completed at the end of the second day.

Time ran out before Mr Richardson's barrister and the barrister for the town council could make their closing speeches.

The Judge, His Honour Paul Darlow decided to adjourn the case. He gave both parties until December 19 to submit written legal submissions and ordered that one more day be set aside at either Bath or Bristol County Court to hear the closing arguments after which he would make a judgement.

Due to the lack of court time at county courts in the area it could be January or February 2002 before the case resumes.

The case finished with evidence from town councillor Tim Price.

He told the court that he had wanted the skateboard park to be sited on the small Green but councillors voted against this site, leaving Hillworth Park as the only site available.

Coun Price said he and his colleagues at the town council chose steel equipment for the skateboard park after being told by the manufacturers that it would be less noisy than wooden equipment.

Mr Richardson, 62, had earlier told the court that his life had been made a misery since the skateboard had been installed in October 1998.

He said since it was installed he had suffered from excessive noise, vandalism to his property and graffiti.

In an incident in June 2000, 11 of the windows in his Orangery were smashed.

A 16-year-old youth appeared at Devizes Youth Court and was ordered to undergo a 12 month supervision order.

Mr Richardson, who is retired, told the court in a written statement: "The noise from the skateboard park clearly penetrates to the sitting room which is directly behind the veranda.

"I often have to beat a retreat from the noise in the sitting room and frequently end up (often with guests) in the kitchen, which is at the front of the house."

The Judge will rule if the skateboard park is a nuisance.

If he does he could order that the park be moved to another location.