PROFESSIONAL skateboarders are due to come to town after the local council agreed to finance a public event.

Loughton Town Council has agreed to provide £2,000 to host the event this autumn as a taster for a new skateboard facility it has promised to build for local youths.

At a meeting of its recreation committee the council agreed to build the new facility, after public consultation, at one of three locations in the town: Willingale Road Nature Reserve, Willingale Road Playing Field, and the Roding Valley Recreation Ground.

PCSO Hayley Toye delivered a presentation to the committee suggesting Epping Forest College land might be used.

She said: “From talking to the youths on the street a lot of them would like anything. They commented that Borders Lane was a good site. Also the college is quite keen.”

But councillors dismissed the possibility of signing a lease with the college, who they have been negotiating with for years.

Cllr Stephen Murray said: “The people who started this idea were at Roding Valley High School. They're now 26-years-old. The college has let us down badly on this. We must stick with land we own.”

Cllr Suzanne Harper said: “Our main concern is we don't let the present group of youths down. They've waited long enough. Their parents where the initial youngsters who wanted this. The problem with the college is every single talk we have lasts years and years.”

Skater Aaron Griffiths, 17, of Colebrook Lane, has been involved in consultation with the town council for a new skate park.

He said: “I think it's really good, if they do the day. It'd be a really good push for showing the local area needs a skatepark. It seems that the council are definitely on to it.”

Loughton Youth Project manager Nick Robinson, who has been calling for skatepark facilities in the town, welcomed the progress being made.

He said: “From a young people's point of view we're very pleased this consultation event is happening. We've been waiting a long time for a skate park, and this shows a commitment to to driving the project forward.”

The time and location of the skateboarding event are due to be confirmed soon.