At the moment we're travelling to skateparks in Chester and Liverpool - if people travel there, then they can travel to north Wales to use ours

BMX enthusiast, Ben Neal

Although still in the planning stages, more than 100 children have voiced their support for the "Ramps and Rails" project which could cost up to �750,000.

Committees have been set up to raise funds and chairman David Neal said they have received positive feedback.

Mr Neal got involved in the scheme to give his own children something to do: "There's basically nowhere for the children to go to hang out.

"The whole ethos is the fact that you get 13, 14, 15-year-olds and all we're offering them is a smoke filled boozer, there's no excitement for them."

Youngsters do not want to hang around Denbigh

Mr Neal's 18-year-old son Ben has been a BMX enthusiast for around three years he said he has been forced to "ride on the streets.

He said: "There's not enough for young people at the moment at the town - they just hang around on the streets."

"There's a definite need for a skatepark - I see more skateboarders and bikers every time I go into the town."

"At the moment we're travelling to skateparks in Chester and Liverpool - if people travel there, then they can travel to north Wales to use ours."

Organisers have earmarked three sites around the town centre to turn into a venue for BMX bikers and skateboard enthusiasts.

Denbighshire County Council have backed the scheme in principle and may contribute to the financial costs.

According to Kay Homer from Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council, teenagers have already started taking part in the sport.

"We're extremely keen to get this skatepark because they're skating up and down the hills in Denbigh already," she said.

Massive venue

The project - set up six months ago - has been skating along smoothly but organisers say they still have a long way to go to get the amount of money they need.

Father-of-three Mr Neil said: "If we're going to go for a massive venue, we're looking at about �750,000 if it's going to be just a few ramps, we're looking at a few thousand."

Committee members are hoping to receive objective one funding and they have also written to Sportlot for a grant.

If the money is raised and they get planning permission, they hope the ramps will be ready for action by the end of 2002.