The park will be used by young skateboarders

About 70-80 protestors, many of them elderly, have pitched tents on open land in Chepstow to try to stop council contractors moving in to begin work on a skate park.

The park, which will be used by young skaters, skateboarders and BMX bikers, is due to be built at Bulwark Park, in Chepstow.

The plan was twice considered by Monmouthshire council planners but protestors claim their concerns were not taken into account.

The site manager suspended operations in order to safeguard everyone's safety Peter Ellis, Monmouthshire council

After an initial protest on Monday, protestors began sitting in front of diggers at about 0430 BST on Wednesday, shortly after the first contractors arrived at the site.

Work was later abandoned for the day by council officials.

The protestors claim the planned skate park, which is being built by Monmouthshire council, will stop elderly people using the park.

Geoff Phelps, 62, who lives near the proposed park, was among the first protestors at the site.

'Not listened to'

He said: "We gathered a 500-name petition against this park, but it wasn't listened to.

"Our main objection is that the skate park will spoil the last piece of open space in that part of Chepstow.

"A lot of people in this area are retired or nearly retired and want to enjoy the park.

"That will be impossible with the skate park there."

Mr Phelps added that the protestors feared vandalism and anti-social behaviour would follow the construction of the park.

'Project support'

A spokesperson for Monmouthshire council said there was ample time for protestors to make their concerns known during the planning process and that the project had significant support.

Peter Ellis, Head of Community Learning at Monmouthshire council added: "The provision of a skate park in Chepstow was developed after working closely with young people in the area, the town council and the local police.

"The council's cabinet committee gave the final go-ahead for the development of a skate park at Bulwark Park, primarily because the site provided a safe and convenient location.

"However, last Monday protestors prevented the contractors from starting the work.

"This morning a small number of people continued with their protest, resulting in the site manager suspending operations in order to safeguard everyone's safety.

"Solicitors acting on behalf of both the protestors and ourselves, together with Gwent police, are currently working together to try to resolve the dispute.

"We hope that work will resume as soon as possible so that the project can be completed within the contract period."