AFTER years of campaigning, young people in Okehampton are just a step away from having their own BMX track and skateboarding area.

With the authorities backing the scheme for land at the rear of Brayhams Terrace in principle, it will be up to West Devon Borough Council's planning committee to have the final say.

At the helm of the project is OCRA which has put together a plan including a track, triple jumps, ditches and a half-pipe area costing in the region of £15,000.

OCRA has been able to offer a paid-for session once a week in the Sports Hall but manager Stuart Lord said it was not good enough.

'There are so many children and young people in their 20s who enjoy these activities and we need a free access area which they can use every day of the week,' he said.

'It has taken a lot of time and effort to get it to this stage — I just hope we will get everyone on our side so we can provide something really brilliant for the young people of this area.'

The Environment Agency and Devon County Council have been consulted and have no objections to the project. Okehampton Town Council has agreed to look into providing insurance, management and maintenance.

The land, next to the river, is owned by West Devon Borough Council and has a restrictive covenant on it that precludes building. However, farmer Jeff Wooldridge had agreed to relax the covenant to permit a BMX track and skateboarding area to be constructed and the borough council's strategic development committee has agreed for the land to be used.

Mr Lord said there had been skating areas built in Northlew, Hatherleigh and Tavistock and now was the time for Okehampton to catch up.

'This was a proposal when I first came here three years ago and it has been the subject of petitions and presentations to the town council,' he added. 'This time I believe we are really getting somewhere and the site is ideal — all we need is planning permission.'

Fifteen-year-old Ricky Bending, who has been skating for four years and BMX-ing for one and a half, is one youngster keeping his fingers crossed.

'Basically, there is nowhere in Okehampton apart from the sports hall one night a week,' he said. 'We get moaned at for riding or skating on the pavement or in Waitrose car park and jumps we have made in the woods have been destroyed.'

Ricky has had several accidents including one when he cracked his head open and ripped the back of his ear while he was skating down towards the North Road Industrial Estate.

'It is dangerous to be skating on the roads but if we had a proper area that is where we would be and it would be better for everyone,' he said.

Mayor Christine Marsh said she had been very impressed by a presentation the youngsters had given to the council on the need for a skate and BMX area over a year ago.

'We wanted to support and help them in whatever way we could but it is also part of the council's policy to encourage and support young people,' she said.

'This site is ideal and with the Guide Hut already down there it makes sense to have more facilities where the young people can hang out.'