SKATE group Taviskate celebrated the return of their refurbished ramp to Benson's Meadow in Tavistock this week — but have criticised the local authorities for what they claim is a lack of support.

Members of the group raised £1,090 to pay for repairs to the ramp which was damaged by fire last year — it now stands where the group wants to build a dedicated skate park.

But Taviskate members are worried it took six months for the town council to install the ramp after they had raised the money for its repair.

Bob Pilbeam, of Taviskate, said: 'They are frustrated by the lack of interest, concern or pro-active support for the informal recreational needs of teenagers in the town.'

Mr Pilbeam said the group wants youth workers in the Tavistock area to recognise the danger of young people using roads or car parks to enjoy their sport and to work with young people, supporting their efforts to create a safe environment for in-line skating, skate-boarding and BMX-biking.

And Mr Pilbeam called on town and borough councillors to 'fulfill their responsibilities for community leisure provision by taking the self-evident demand for a skate park seriously'.

'Taviskate has done much of the required research to prepare for the creation of a park in the Meadows, largely through the efforts of its young members and with meagre resources, but lacks the political and financial power to make it happen,' said Mr Pilbeam.

He said other councils took skaters seriously — £34,000 has just been spent on a skate park in Seaton, local authorities put £30,000 towards a similar park in Sidmouth and South Hams council is planning two at Kingsbridge and Ivybridge, based on the success of their facility in Totnes.

The group has more than 100 members who have built mobile ramps and rails, hold regular skating sessions and fundraising events.

Taviskate has obtained quotes for the type of facility they would like to see in Tavistock — the group needs to raise £50,000 to see their plans come to fruition.

David Inman, deputy chief executive at the borough, said: 'I don't know what provision other councils are making, but we could certainly check it out.

'We have had discussions with them in the past and we would be quite happy to talk about their particular concerns.

'I know our sports development team would be very happy to chat to them.'

Cllr Roger Mathew, mayor of Tavistock, said: 'As far as the town council is concerned, I think we didn't do too badly.

'I share their frustration about the speed, but you can't get things done in local authorities quickly — councillors want answers to issues and they won't move until they have all of them.'

Cllr Mathew said the council would always consider requests from groups like Taviskate although there was a limit financially on how much help it could give.

As far as the borough was concerned, Cllr Mathew said leisure provision was a discretionary service and as a very small authority it had to operate on a shoestring budget.