Kids with Commitment is working to help find a new site

More than �40,000 was spent building the park in Kingsbridge three years ago, a quarter of which was raised by a local children's organisation.

But after it was opened in 2001, the skatepark soon became unpopular with local residents because of noise.

Councillors say this forced them to order its closure earlier this month.

I was very impressed by the level of commitment to find a site Jeff Beer

Young people in the Kingsbridge area formed a group called Kids With Commitment to raise money to buy equipment for the skatepark. In all, they managed to collect more than �11,000.

South Hams District Council itself spent more than �30,000 on the project.

Now the process has begun of looking for an alternative site for the skatepark which will not face the same problems.

Council representatives, police officers and young people are among those involved in the consultation.

The groups have pledged to work together to investigate the suitability a number of sites and to track down previously unidentified options, with South Hams District Council leading the search.

The group will meet again over the coming weeks to review the results of the investigation, which must avoid a repeat of the noise problems that plagued the original skatepark site.

Independent report

Complaints from neighbouring residents over the noise led to the council erecting sound barriers around the park in 2002.

However, earlier this month district councillors members were forced to order its closure after an independent report concluded the noise still created a statutory nuisance.

Any new site must not create a similar problem for other homes or the council will be breaking the law.

South Hams District councillor for Kingsbridge, Jeff Beer, said: "I was very impressed by the level of commitment within the town to find a site for our young skaters.

"We are also looking for a space that they can quickly and safely use while we achieve a permanent solution."