A TOWN'S long-awaited proposals to create a permanent area for use by skateboarders have again had to be put on hold.

Northallerton has been looking for a suitable site for a skateboard park for a number of years, but so far the search has been in vain.

In the meantime, temporary measures have been introduced that allow members of the town's skateboarding club to use one of the local car parks.

Now, following the failure of the latest effort to find a permanent base for the enthusiasts, those temporary measures are to be extended, and the skateboarders will continue to use the Applegarth car-park for the time being.

Earlier this year, Northallerton Town Council drew up proposals to site the skateboard club on land at Bullamoor Park.

However, Hambleton District Council, which owns the land, refused to grant permission, claiming it was the wrong site for such use.

Instead, an area of land at the Applegarth, which is owned by the town council, was suggested, but, although it is used only once a year - on bonfire night - that was rejected.

The chairman of Hambleton council's leisure committee, Councillor Susan Latter, said yesterday: "We believe that Bullamoor is the wrong spot for the skateboard park.

"The youngsters are very responsible and have even been raising money for their equipment, but their hobby is a noisy one and people in the area were against it."

She added: "Having talked to the youngsters involved in this club, it is clear that they prefer the car park site.

"It has all the advantages of closed-circuit television, toilets and good lighting which the park cannot give and, until we can come up with a permanent solution to the problem, the club will continue to use the car park."

Members of the skateboard club use the car park in the evenings, when it is not busy. They cone off a section, where they can erect their equipment.

"They are not interfering with anybody there, or causing any nuisance, but it is a temporary thing, because they can't use the car park during the day when it is full of cars," said Mrs Latter