A petition has been launched for a pump track and skateboard park in Oswestry.

Oswestry town councillor and former mayor Olly Rose and Theodore Merchant, who works at Mule Bike shop in Salop Road, have joined together to launch the petition as a show of strength to Shirehall.

Cllr Rose said that the petition was borne out of trying to work with Shropshire Council on land it owns close to Oswestry Leisure Centre in a policy that has gone back prior to the pandemic.

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Cllr Rose said: “The creation of a skateboard park has been a priority of the town council since 2020 when Cllr Mike Isherwood presented a motion on behalf of a group of young people.  

“The only suitable site is on land owned by Shropshire Council  next to the leisure centre.

“This land was  given planning permission for a similar use in 2011.

“The town council has been trying to acquire it and use money from the Morrisons Capital Receipt to create a suitable facility.

“Progress has been very slow so we’re launching a petition to show the strength of support for the project.”

Theo added that his day-to-day wok has given him an insight into how the skatepark and track would benefit young people in the town.

He said: “Working in a bike shop I know that a pump track and skatepark would be an amazing safe space for the young people of Oswestry.

“To have fun, get fit, make friends and potentially find a hobby for life or even become a professional athlete.”      

Cllr Rose added: “Pump tracks and skateboard facilities are available in many smaller settlements around Oswestry and we feel our young people have been missing out for far too long.  

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“Having no proper facilities is letting young people down as well as having an impact on some residents who have reported anti-social riding in other parts of the town.

“They hope you will sign our petition as we need a 1,000 signatures for it to be debated at Shropshire Council.

Anyone wishing to lend their support to the petition can do so at https://shropshire.gov.uk/committee-services/mgePetitionListDisplay.aspx