YOUNG skaters this week dismissed the worries of Craven councillors as "excuses" after their long-awaited dream of a wheel park in Skipton was put on hold.

They were speaking after members of Craven District Council's community services committee voted against having a wheel park in the town's Aireville Park.

Instead councillors agreed to continue to look for alternative sites in Skipton.

It is the second setback for the youngsters - their original site off Shortbank Close was vetoed at the last minute after nearby residents voiced various concerns.

However, members of the Skipton Wheel Park Project told the Herald this week they would fight on and they planned to lobby councillors at the full council meeting on Tuesday night.

The project group, which includes a cross-section of children who have pushed for facilities in the town, said they were hoping members of the authority would have a change of heart at this crucial stage of the campaign.

And several young skaters hit back at councillors' claims that in-line skating was just a "fad".

Sixteen-year-old David Beech said: "They always say it is a fad - they've said that about other sports such as BMX biking and skateboarding.

"But the fact is the park will not just be for us skaters, but for all types of wheeled sports."

Another member of the group, 13-year-old Katie Speak added: "I don't see why Skipton should not be able to have a wheel park when other places have them."

When asked what she thought of councillors' comments that the sport was highly dangerous, Katie said: "Whatever sport you do there is some danger in it and it would not be as dangerous for us if we had the right equipment."

Methodist minister the Rev David Emison, chairman of the project, said that fears that the wheel park would take over the Aireville site were unfounded.

He added: "We believe the park should be for everyone and we are only asking for a fairly small area in the park where all the activities are concentrated.

"We believe we should be able to have all activities that are provided in a modern urban park."

The Aireville site is supported by residents on Shortbank Close who opposed the original venue near their homes at a recreation area, known as the Gully.

Craven District Council's housing department called a meeting with them last week to establish whether they still held the same opinions.

Coun Margaret Billing, who attended the meeting, said the residents were still "utterly opposed" to the idea of having the park near their homes.

"The views of the residents had not changed and they expressed some genuine fears about having the wheel park there. They want the decision on Aireville Park to be overturned."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.