A RENEWED push to see a skate park built in Watton has been given another boost with a building firm offering to undertake the initial consultancy work for free.

A RENEWED push to see a skate park built in Watton has been given another boost with a building firm offering to undertake the initial consultancy work for free.

The offer, by Watton-based Clayland Group, means all funds raised to build the facility in the town can go on actual construction rather than some of the cash being spent on initial surveys and paperwork.

It will be welcome news for many youngsters in Watton, some of whom recently called for the wheels to be put back in motion on plans for the park and handed in a petition of more than 100 signatures from local homeowners who all said they would not be averse to seeing it built.

Clayland director Chris Tilley said: 'I, like a lot of the residents, want to get something installed for the children.

'I thought it would be a nice gesture to offer the services of our consultancy business.

'The offer is for things like site appraisals and advice on suitability, access and conformity issues, design, feasibility and cost.

'I did not want the council to have to spend the money on that and then have less to build the park.'

The contentious issue of building a skate park in Watton has dragged on for more than half a decade.

In 2003 a facility was almost built on the Stokes Avenue sports field, at the west end of the town.

However, after successfully bidding for more than �30,000

of funding and obtaining

the necessary land from

reckland Council, Watton Town Council was forced to abandon the plan and hand back the cash because of opposition and no acceptable alternative site being found.

The council will need to bid for more funding for any park to be built and councillors have previously warned it may be difficult to get the level of funding necessary in the current economic climate.