The mayor of Kingsteignton has revealed that Newton Abbot Racecourse and Rackerhayes are on his wish list of venues for a new BMX and skate park.

Cllr Mike Walters is determined that youngsters in his community should not have to rely on facilities in Newton Abbot and called for a concerted effort.

Plans to develop a park took a significant step forward last week when talks attracted 24 youngsters.

The meeting was chaired by PCSO Vanessa Pike, who is familiar with the problems and safety risks when youngsters create their own makeshift circuits.

Now, under the banner of the Kingsteignton Riders' Union, they have set up their own committee.

But finding the cash and a venue are major challenges.

The cost of similar projects elsewhere in the district range from £50,000 up to £180,000 for the Decoy extreme sports venue, £50,000 of which came from Teignbridge Council.

But in Kingsteignton there is no offer of district cash, only administrative support.

Cllr Anne Fry, spokesman for recreational services said: 'Most funders require applicants to have a piece of land with a 25-year lease so the first step is to make sure somewhere appropriate is found.

'Then we can look carefully at ways to fund the park and provide assistance with applications for funding.'

Cllr Walters told the Advertiser he had approached Sibelco, formerly WBB Minerals, and was also about to write to Newton Abbot Racecourse.

'I have talked informally with Sibelco as Rackerhayes is the favourite area but it is also a possibility that the auxiliary car park at the former indoor bowls centre would be big enough and that we could get a lease on it.

'To that end the town clerk will shortly be writing to the racecourse,' he said.

'But I must stress that we also need more young people on board to make this worthwhile, 25 or 30 are not enough.

'I'd also like to see those businesses currently affected by the problems of youngsters skating on the streets involved.

'Likewise the damage caused to property by boards and bikes must stop. I'm wholeheartedly behind this project but it's a two-way process

'Kingsteignton is big enough to need its own facilities, Decoy might be less than three miles away but it is across several main roads and besides at night it is not lit.

'Kingsteignton is now a town, If we really want this we'll have to get together and make sure the support is there.'

The meeting, on March 10, will be held at 7pm in the youth club, Broadway Road.