A SCHOOLBOY warned by police about skateboarding in the streets has been praised for showing initiative and lobbying the town hall to get a patch of scrubland turned into skatepark.

A SCHOOLBOY warned by police about skateboarding in the streets has been praised for showing initiative and lobbying the town hall to get a patch of scrubland turned into skatepark.

Community College student John Strover, 13, from Bradham Lane, has asked the town council to turn a small patch of wasteland near the Famous Old Barrel Pub into a skate park because of safety concerns at the town's existing facility.

John said that the existing skate park in Phear Park had a broken ramp, a rough surface and 'lots of small stones' that got stuck in the wheels and tripped them up.

He suggested a range of new obstacles and equipment like ramps, a concrete ledge and two quarter pipes that any new park should have.

But most importantly, he said, they needed a 'smooth concrete floor' to minimise the risk of trips.

He said: "I and almost every other skateboarder in Exmouth think that would be a perfect place for a new skate park, and there are a lot of skateboarders in Exmouth.

"Unfortunately if we skate on the streets we are often told off by police or shouted at by other person, which makes us look bad.

"People say skating is damaging the place, but I've been skateboarding for almost two years and I can't see any damage to anything.

"...for skateboarders like me and my friends the closest good parks are in Cornwall."

At the General Purposes and Regeneration Committee meeting this week town clerk John Wokersien welcomed the plea and praised him and other young people for 'showing initiative'.

He added however that the land was likley to be under the ownership of the district council, but would pass the request onto East Devon District Council.

A spokesman for EDDC left the door open for the project: "The site is to be included as part of the master planning process that will commence shortly.

"The process will include community engagement likely to start in March or April this year and that would be the best time for the young man to put forward his suggestion.