YOUNGSTERS in two south Wiltshire communities are appealing for councillors to back their plans to get skate parks installed in their villages.

Teenagers in Downton and Porton would like the parks to give them something to do and somewhere to go.

A group of young people who attended the Amesbury Area Board meeting on Thursday said they were getting fed up of travelling all the way to Salisbury skate park and are calling for one in Porton.

They have started a petition in support of the proposal, which has already got 230 signatures.

“There are about 15 of us who cycle around the Bourne Valley, but to be honest there isn’t much to do,” said a spokesman for the youngsters. “We often visit Porton Park, but if we are there for a few hours, it can get boring.”

They enlisted the help of Maverick, a company that designs and builds skate parks, and have come up with a design for the park they’d like to see developed in the village.

A spokesman from Maverick said a similar park in the centre of Dorchester had resulted in a reduction in nuisance crime figures and had brought the community together.

Area board vice chairman Mike Hewitt said there were mixed views from the parish council in Porton, and suggested the young people take their presentation to its next meeting to explain further.

There will be a meeting about the park at Porton Village Hall on July 19 at 7pm.

Downton Parish Council is also looking into possible sites for a skate park after a member of the public suggested the idea at their council meeting in June.

The youngster said he had gleaned considerable support from teenagers in Downton for the idea, and chairman Chris Hall said the idea had been discussed for many years.

“It will give the young people somewhere to go and something to do – they can go there on their bikes and skates and play around in relatively safety,” he said.