A NEW skateboard ramp with additional features is on the cards for Tenbury's daring whizz-kids.

A successful bid to secure funding, made by community safety officer for Malvern Hills District Council Mark McKey, has secured £12,000.

A steering committee has now been set up to push forward plans.

Some town councillors, however, have questioned the need for a skate board ramp.

Mr McKey outlined terms of the bid to town councillors last month and discussions are under way for suitable locations to enable the current council-owned ramp in the Burgage to be moved.

Equipment maintenance will be the responsibility of the Community Safety Partnership but, if the facility is resited to council-owned property, insurance will remain in their hands.

Consideration will be given to lighting costs but these could be reduced if ramps are located in already well-lit areas.

Equipment costs could also be reduced if a local company provides the equipment.

Concerned over the need for a new facility, Councillor Maureen Pardoe, chair of the Vital Villages project, asked to see the Partnership's consultation figures.

She told the meeting: "Views on skateboarding and roller blades had been included in the Parish Plan questionnaire but there did not appear to be any demand for that sort of facility."

After the meeting, Coun Diann Dowell said: "Children don't have to answer to the Parish Plan and I would like to see the numbers of children, compared to adults who responded, to the questionnaire on skateboarding.

Councillors Dowell and Griffiths were nominated to represent the town council on the steering committee alongside police Sgt Sean Kent and youth representatives.

A timetable of meetings has been drawn up by Mr McKey and the committee will keep the town council informed on progress.

A site location meeting to look at suitable areas for the new ramp has already taken place

The final decision will be made at a full council meeting next Monday.