A PLAN to build a new skate park in Sedbergh is causing a stir among residents.

The application, submitted by Sedbergh & District Community Trust, would see the park built on the town's Recreation Ground, which is owned by Sedbergh Parish Council.

Dr Gina Barney, who is the secretary for the trust, thinks that the park would be a worthwhile investment for the town's young people.

"The Sedbergh Youth Association completed a survey, and they said they wanted to have a skate park," Dr Barney said. "It's an enjoyable thing for 11 to 18 year olds."

Dr Barney cites Kirkby Lonsdale and Kendal as two other towns that have managed to successfully integrate skate parks, but says that both of those locations are too far for young people without their own transport to reach.

Initially, a decision had to be made between the north and south side of the field, however from the offset there were objections to both.

Dr Keith Johnson, who lives close to the southern site, spoke on behalf of the Highfield Street residents at a meeting of Sedbergh Parish Council.

The residents were initially concerned about the noise that the skate park would bring and felt it would decrease the quality of life in the area.

Although it is the northern Hogwill Lane site that has now been chosen for the park, Dr Johnson still believes that there are issues to address.

"I am very much in favour of the skate park if it's something the young people want," he said. "But Sedbergh needs to attract walkers and tourists and it's had problems doing that in recent years. The worst thing that could possibly be done is building a concrete construction on a green piece of land."

The pre-application advice that the parish council received from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority echoed Dr Johnson's concerns, stating that a large raised concrete area could appear 'as an alien feature in such an open location'.

Objections to the proposed plot of land have also been coming from the local junior football team, who use the field to play games.

Kevin Kirby, who is the manager of the Sedbergh Wanderers Junior Football Club under 8's, thinks that football should be given priority as it has been played on that field for more than 50 years.

"There's no room for a skate park and football pitch," he said. "We're at loggerheads really. It should go on the other side."

Mr Kirby is currently seeking funding from the Football Foundation in order to turn the land into a more regulated football pitch for the juniors, whose team formed less than two years ago.

He has suggested, as has Dr Johnson, that Settlebeck School be considered as an alternative location or that the southern site is used instead.

Cllr Nick Cotton (Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale) believes that although most people are in favour of the skate park and that the one they have in Kirkby Lonsdale has been a success, it is the location that is causing problems.

"Gina is trying to do something for the good of the young people," he said. "But meetings [about it] really did get quite heated."

The application will now be discussed by the parish council in May.