A BID for a skate park in the heart of a North Yorkshire market town has been thrown a lifeline after being rejected by planners.

At a meeting last week the Richmond YMCA's application for the town's Ronaldshay Park was turned down by a single vote.

Councillors were worried it would mean the relocation of a five-a-side football pitch, established by public demand.

There were also concerns that the new facility would attract young troublemakers, and lead to more noise and disturbance for people with homes nearby.

But the decision put Richmondshire District Council's planning urgency sub-committee on a collision course with the authority's leisure chiefs, who are equally adamant Ronaldshay Park is the only sensible location for the skate park.

The YMCA had already confirmed it would be appealing against the planners' decision and the district authority's own economic, cultural and leisure committee has now voted to back the organisation.

"This committee has always supported the skate park and I would ask members to support the suggestion that Ronaldshay Park is the best location," said council chairman, Councillor Jane Metcalfe, who has played a leading role in negotiations with the YMCA and youngsters backing the project.

"There are young people waiting in the wings to help raise money to get this facility off the ground and, if we can achieve that, then it will be one of the best things to happen in my political career," she said.

Bolton Manor ward member, Nigel Watson, said the young people most likely to use the skate park were in an age group which had few facilities provided for them.

"There is an age when you can feel left out," he said. "It is often the teenagers who are at the sharp end of some duff decisions and they are bound to find that disheartening."

Local authority rules meant councillors who sat on the planning committee were unable to vote at the leisure committee meeting.

However, the remaining members of the economic, cultural and leisure committee agreed unanimously to continue their support for the application for Ronaldshay Park and to back the YMCA in its appeal.