ANGRY villagers in Sherston have sent 24 letters of protest and presented a 38-signature petition in opposition to a skatepark near their homes.

The parish council wants to build the £50,000 skatepark at the edge of the sports field, near Knockdown Road.

People living in North End Gardens say they are worried about noise and concerned the youngsters could get injured by traffic on Knockdown Road.

The application is due to be considered at a meeting of North Wiltshire District Council on June 18, and the protesters say they will be out in force.

The letters have been sent to the district council in the past week, while the petition was also submitted last week. Copies have been sent to the parish council.

Nanny Alison Dyer, 22, who lives in North End Gardens, is among those leading the protest.

"We want to stress we think it is a good thing, the youngsters need something to do," said Mrs Dyer. "But this is not the place to have it. It is too near our homes, and too near a busy road. There are better places in the village."

The parish council looked at two sites on the recreation field, nearer the centre of the village, before settling on the football field.

A costly noise consultant has been employed and gave the plans the okay.

Parish clerk Tony Wood said the plans have been displayed at the village school and village hall, giving everyone an opportunity to see them.

He said young people asked for a skateboard park during consultation last summer over proposals for new equipment on the playground.

He said the parish council has gone to lengths to avoid the sort of problems in Chippenham, where the skatepark is being moved because neighbours near Monkton Park have complained about noise. The parish is hoping to buy some of the equipment from the Chippenham park to use in Sherston.

Mrs Dyer said money could be better spent on a youth centre. She said she would also be prepared to help out in such a venture. But she said neighbours are also worried about noise.

"My next-door-neighbour has just celebrated his 90th birthday while my other neighbour is disabled, they live here because its peaceful and quiet and they feel safe," she said. "Everyone is very concerned about a skatepark being on our doorstep."

Mrs Dyer said she and her neighbours would like to meet parish councillors to discuss the plans.

Mr Wood, on the other hand, said all the talking had been done. "As far as we are concerned the application is in, our comments are in, and unless councillors are minded to put additional comments in it is done and dusted," he said.

The parish clerk said the skatepark was on the edge of town where there is little street lighting, and would not attract as many youngsters as some people think. "No doubt there will be a rush at first but over the following weeks and months we are not expecting it to be a honey-pot for children from miles around," he said.

The skatepark has been financed through an £8,500 grant from North Wiltshire District Council, with the rest made up by the parish council.

Coun John Thomson, who represents the village on Wiltshire County Council, said the ramps from Chippenham would save the council £30,000.