A LEAD must be taken by Thirsk Town Council to create a skateboard park for youngsters in the town.

Councillor Jo Salmon, speaking at a meeting of the council's amenity committee, said it had failed to achieve its aim after six years of trying.

"The town has been trying for all this time to provide skateboard facilities. Let us as a council lead and have a strategy to work with," she said.

The committee was discussing the latest move in the skatepark saga following Hambleton District Council's refusal to grant planning permission for a scheme on Carrsfield.

An open meeting which followed examined various proposals, including looking into three other possible sites.

Coun Salmon said: "This council has a strategy to work towards seeing this skate park come about.

"I think we should in principal endorse investigation into the three suggested sites- and take it from there."

County Councillor Jan Marshall agreed. She said: "Our first move as a town is to identify a site instead of squabbling at this stage as to which is best or which one might have problems."

The three new suggested sites are Sowerby Flatts; alongside Thirsk school all-weather pitch and land at the junction of Station and Newsham Road.

Investigations into each of the sites are ongoing and a further open meeting is planned for all interested parties on Thursday, March 21.