PROBLEMS over contractor access to Addingham's proposed skate park site near the Memorial Hall could be overcome with additional spending - but the village youngsters may have to come up with the cash themselves.

Addingham Parish Council chairman, Gordon Campbell, told members had met the contractor and the cost to Tarmacadam the 20 by ten metres piece of land would be £3,900 plus VAT.

But access would be a problem and a temporary roadway would have to be installed for the machinery to get to the site. This would cost an additional £1,300 plus VAT, with the land the road crossed being restored after the work was completed.

He said the parish council had already pledged £2,000 towards the cost and there have been donations of £750 from the Memorial Hall Committee, £500 from the Civic Society and £150 from the Gala Committee which added a further £1,400.

But it still left a shortfall of £1,800 to make the site ready for the skatepark users to create their own ramps and jumps.

Coun Campbell added he had had a meeting with the police and they were happy with the suggested site.

He told members, however, that he had received a letter against the proposals from the parent of a nine-year-old boy who, incidentally, was in favour of a park.

"This resident is suggesting the parish council should have better things to spend its money on and is complaining about the potential noise disturbance, anti-social behaviour, graffiti, the cost of insurance etc, and urges the parish council to reconsider its ideas," said Coun Campbell.

Coun Alan Jerome was critical of the resident's suggestions. He said: "Someone who has never attended a parish council meeting has come along and lambasted the parish council and written a letter that we should change our views. I think we have a commitment to the village to go ahead."

Coun Jerome added: "I think it should be up to the users of the skatepark to bridge the gap in the £1,800 shortfall. I think we have shown our commitment by putting 40 per cent towards it."

Coun Sheila Hamilton agreed that the park should be supported and that the council should 'do something for the children'.

But Coun Danny Palmer was not as enthusiastic, saying that if it went to a vote, he would vote against it.

"I don't like the site because it's unfair to the people in nearby houses and I think that until they have the funds, nothing should be done."

Another queried its feasibility and asked how many children would be likely to use it, to which Coun Campbell replied: "There is no doubt about it, skating is here to stay. A new generation comes through as regular as clockwork."

Members voted to take the latest figures and suggestions to the annual parish meeting in April where the matter could be discussed fully in public.

l The parish council has agreed to top up the £4,800 loan it gave to the village cricket club ten years ago.

The council had received a letter from the club asking if it could have the loan topped up to the original amount and had drawn up an agreement.

The club was paying the loan back at £40 per month and there was £1,120 still owing. The parish council agreed to lend an additional £3,680 and keep repayments at the current rate.