PARENTS and youngsters in Malmesbury have collected a 90-signature petition supporting a skateboard park in the town.

The petition, which will be presented to councillors, has been organised by the Malmesbury Skaters and Riders Action Group, set up seven years ago to lobby for a skateboard park in the town.

Persimmon Homes has offered to develop a skateboard park and drain land for a play area at Reeds Farm, as part of a development of five houses overlooking Morse Close.

Sue Alexander, 46, who lives near Tetbury Hill, and has two sons, Ben, 16, and Jacob, 13, is the chairman of the action group.

She said a skateboard park is desperately needed. "I am doing a petition to show there is support for the skate park and the drainage of land at Reeds Farm," said Mrs Alexander.

She said she started collecting signatures in Reeds Farm last Saturday and was delighted with the response so far.

"All the young people want it and have worked so hard for it over the years only to be disappointed so many times," added Mrs Alexander.

Last week Reeds Farm residents, unhappy at the proposed development, lobbied councillors at a meeting of Malmesbury Town Council's planning committee.

Mrs Alexander said she wanted to make it clear that although the action group supported the skateboard park, it was not necessarily in favour of the new homes.

Anyone wishing to support the petition should write to Mrs Alexander C/O The Cartmell Centre, Tetbury Hill, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9JR, no later than November 23.