YOUNGSTERS are a step closer to securing their own skate park as residents vote for their favourite designs this week.

Four designs for a concrete floodlit skate park in Spennymoor will be displayed in the town hall until Thursday, July 30.

Fed up of travelling to Coxhoe or Chilton, skateboarders have been writing to Spennymoor Town Council asking for a skate park in the town for a decade.

In 2013, the council and Spennymoor Area Action Partnership announced funding of £115,000 had been secured for the project and land in Jubilee Park was identified.

The contract was put out to tender soon afterwards, but no businesses came forward due to busy schedules.

Undeterred, the council tried again and this time received designs from four companies.

Town clerk Pauline Waterson said: “In our last round of consultation young people came up with a list of must have features for the skate park and these were all included in the tender pack. All of the designers met these requirements. We are now asking the community to come and vote for their favourite design.”

Funding for the skate park has come from Durham County Councillors Neil Foster, Barbara Graham and Kevin Thompson who between them gave £25,000 from their neighbourhood budget, £40,000 from the Area Action Partnership (AAP), £50,000 from the town council and £30,000 of section 106 money from recent developments.

Once built, Spennymoor Town Council will maintain the facility.

The public consultation event runs in Spennymoor Town Hall’s reception from 9am to 7pm until Thursday, July 30.

For more information about the skate park, contact the town council on 01388-815276.