Skateboarders across Gwynedd are to benefit from a �560,000 cash boost to create new facilities for one of the fastest-growing sports in the area.

The council has received a Communities First grant from the Welsh Assembly to improve facilities for young people in deprived areas.

At the moment we skateboard in the streets but are always being told off and ushered away Skateboarder Iwan Morgan

Skateparks will be built in Barmouth, Bangor, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Caernarfon, Bangor, Pwllheli and Talysarn.

After a consultation exercise, local communities identified skateparks as a priority for young people in their area.

The news has been welcomed by youths who say there is nothing for them to do in their communities.

Iwan Morgan, 14 and Chris Loony, 15, travel nearly 10 miles on the bus from Bethel to Bangor every weekend to skateboard.

Timber ramps

"I would come here every day if there was a proper skatepark!" said Iwan.

"At the moment we skateboard in the streets but are always being told off and ushered away.

New facilities will be built in six towns

"There's nothing else to do in Bethel," he added.

"There is a gang of around 20 of us in Bethel and we have built timber ramps in the street outside the house," said Chris.

"A real skatepark here would be great," he added.

The Bangor development would include upgrading the games area in Rhodfa Penrhyn on the Maesgeirchen estate.

In Caernarfon, council land in Coed Helen would make way for a skateboard park while land near Dol Awel and Saith Erw has been earmarked in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

A local group, the Flamingo Dragons, are co-ordinating developments in Barmouth on privately owned land at Gwernymynach and the Pwllheli scheme will be developed in Ffordd y Cob.

Petition

Not to be left out, local groups in Porthmadog and Dolgellau are also taking matters into their own hands by forging ahead with their own projects.

"We are not eligible for a Communities First grant but we really need a skatepark as well," said Anita Hall from Porthmadog Skate Park (PSP).

The committee was established two months ago and intends to conduct a survey of local schools to gauge the need for a skatepark.

"The town council is involved and we plan to approach the council about leasing land," said Ms Hall.

"The site we have in mind is the car park near the Glaslyn Leisure Centre which is currently owned by the council's highways department," she added.