TWO new £30,000 skate parks for Derwentside look set to get the go ahead next week.

A report to the district council's executive published this week earmarks Belle Vue Leisure Centre in Consett and the King's Head playing fields in Stanley as venues for the skate parks and recommends that the authority starts building them as soon as possible.

Officers are also asking for a further £2,000 a year to pay for maintenance costs.

Coun Alex Watson, leader of the district council, said: "I am very thrilled about this.

"We have identified funds that could deliver skate parks by April of next year. The kids have done their own sketches of how they want it to look.

"They know what they want and we will not interfere." The funding is part of a major programme by the council to invest in young people and get them more involved in local government. If the scheme gets the go-ahead, it will be designed and managed by the youngsters themselves.

Coun Watson said the cash would be a reward for the hard work that young people had already put into the project.

"We felt it was important to offer them something after the way they have taken responsibility and ownership," he said.

"Hopefully, from them will spring the future young citizens of Derwentside."

Around seven pieces of skating hardware, such as ramps and rails, will go on each site to start with. But their design and location means that future funding could mean even bigger schemes for the district.

The youngsters are already putting together a Lottery bid for further equipment.

The council started the ball rolling last year when it gave the Young People's Committee £10,000 to run its own project. The youngsters opted to use the cash to attract further funding for the skate parks.

Council officers ran consultation days in schools across the district, resulting in an overwhelming vote for a park in both Consett and Stanley.

The executive will make the final decision on the parks when it meets in Consett Civic Centre on Monday at 4pm.