FURTHER setbacks have hit the proposed Liss skate bowl, with tomorrow's (Saturday) public meeting postponed while the parish council awaits "crucial" technical information.

The meeting had already been moved back two weeks in order to give council staff the chance to answer queries.

In a statement this week, parish clerk Dick Bowery said: "Liss Parish Council has decided to postpone the public meeting scheduled for November 15. The council is still awaiting certain vital technical information without which a considered judgment could not be made. When this information is received the meeting will be rescheduled."

The public consultation ended on November 1, and objectors of the proposals had already been unhappy about the six-week consultation period and pointed to Government guidelines that recommend the minimum consultation period should be 12 weeks.

A motion proposed by councillor Howard Linsley will be discussed at the next parish council meeting on Monday to work out a way forward for the bowl.

The motion reads: "Liss Parish Council resolves to set up a working party to examine and scrutinise all issues relating to the provision of a skate facility in Liss and not to make any decision to proceed with any skate facility until the final report of that working party has been fully considered."

If approved, the saga could continue long after any public meeting takes place.

Meanwhile, parish council chairman Roger Mullenger has spoken out against objectors, and explained why the parish council has approved in principle the development of a skate bowl.

He said: "The duty of any council is to provide facilities for all its residents with the resources at its disposal. Over many years the provision for Liss youth has been poor and young people have regularly requested a BMX or skateboard facility. It is important to provide safe places to practice active sports and to not vilify all just because of the behaviour of a small minority.

"A skate bowl can be used by people of all ages, as those who have visited them will have seen. We are confident that it would be a popular facility with young people – and the young at heart, both now and in the future.

"During the consultation process, there have been many inaccurate statements and assumptions made by objectors. For example, most of the funds available for this project may only be used for a limited range of recreational and open space capital projects; alternative ideas presented for use of this money have not fitted these criteria. Additionally, with regard to noise concerns, visits to other bowls would almost certainly dispel the fears expressed.

"The council has gone much further than most organisations in attempting to provide answers during a consultation period, which has enabled more questions and comments to be sent in by residents. Those questions and comments will be considered carefully and responses presented on our website and at the next public meeting.

"The council is currently undertaking further technical investigations that are crucial to the final decision regarding the provision of a skate bowl."

He added: "Liss Parish Council's reason for addressing the provision of youth facilities in the village was mainly as a response to our village questionnaire, where the lack of facilities for our young people was highlighted by local residents."

At October's parish council meeting, a petition with more than 300 signatures was handed over.