The Marlow Society is fully supportive that a skatepark should be built for our young people. The facility should enable the in-line skaters and the BMX bikers to get equal enjoyment and benefit to their sports.

We attended a meeting held by Wycombe District Council (WDC) for consultation with the young people with the skills to use the facilities.

Their requirements were one large facility, to encompass all the necessary equipment to develop their skills, with security, no drugs, lit at night and close to toilets, food and bus services.

The difficulty is for WDC to find a site to meet their aspirations. A potential could be the site of the proposed new leisure centre in High Wycombe, which could be controlled and monitored by Wycombe Leisure.

WDC have instead gone for a number of local facilities, which do not meet the requirements of the young people with possibly only a "half pipe" being provided.

This has led to Higginson Park being considered with the support of the town council who suggest the facility is positioned in the far corner of the park and who would have to help fund the installation.

This site would not meet any of the requirements of the young people and could be so remote as to be a danger to the users and a base for drug peddlers. The society does not support these proposals.

Marlow has a number of very under-used parks and green spaces that should be considered before any decision is made. An example of this would be the Riley Road Trust Park, which is easily accessible, easier to police and nearer to toilets and the shops.

It also has access by bus and an adjacent car park. Another alternative site could be next to the Youth Centre.

These are not the only options, all sites must be considered before making a decision.

This debate has been ongoing for years and to rush into it would be unacceptable.

Bob Savidge, Trustee, Marlow Society