Angus Council has earmarked an area that could be considered as a venue for a skatepark in Carnoustie.
The move follows discussions between Carnoustie councillor Helen Oswald and Angus Council neighbourhood services director Ron Ashton.
Mrs Oswald spoke to council chiefs after backing a campaign to get an improved skatepark in the town. The bid is backed by all elected Carnoustie members.
A group of teenagers have launched a petition and website (link) as part of the campaign to drum up support for a new skate and BMX park at the waterfront. Almost 100 signatures have been collected so far.
Carnoustie High School pupils Andrew Patterson (14), Kieran Bell (16) and Ross McDonald (15) started the venture as a solution to complaints about young cyclists. Mrs Oswald met the youngsters and their parents to discuss the project’s future.
The boys had hoped to build the new skatepark on the site of the existing facility although some people do not want that to happen. It is likely that the current skatepark could be incorporated into a new wheeled sports area if approval is given.
Mrs Oswald said: “Following an inquiry to the director of neighbourhood services, I have been advised that area adjacent to the current small skate facility could be considered as a venue for a new skatepark.
“I have also spoken to some of those who currently use the existing facility and who would not like to see this lost. I can’t see any reason why this could not be incorporated into any plans for a new wheeled sports area.”
She added: “I’ve been advised that once a steering group has been set up, we can organise meetings with the council department responsible who will support them where possible.
“Once we have had the public meeting in a few weeks’ time, I hope a committee can be formed who will be able to move the project forward in a meaningful way.”
A spokesman for the skatepark group recognised that, unlike other areas, the town already has a skatepark. But he added: “We can’t emphasise enough how poor an attempt that was to build a skatepark. The current skatepark was certainly an afterthought of the waterfront development.”
He continued: “A point we want to make clear is that we don’t want to take any more land from the community therefore we propose the skatepark is built where the current skatepark is.
“We understand that we will have to earn the construction of this new skatepark this is why we are willing to design the park under Angus Council’s guidelines and raise funds to pay a substantial percentage of the budget.”