A FORMAL agreement is now in place securing a home for BordonÕs new skatepark Ð but it will have to be back to the drawing board over the design.

Whitehill Town Council formally announced on Monday that it had come to an agreement with the Ministry of Defence over the leasing of the military tennis courts in Budds Lane.

This means that the major stumbling block of where to site the skatepark has now been overcome.

However the delay in securing the site now means that the council has to redesign the park because safety guidelines have changed which could also put up the price tag of the park.

ÒWe have to go back over our designs because many of the safety recommendations have changed,Ó town clerk Linda Tiley told the council.

ÒThe design that we have already agreed is no longer viable and it will need to be changed slightly.

ÒThere are also likely to be cost implications with the changes.Ó

Town councillors agreed to grant Mrs Tiley the authority to drawn up a new design in consultation with the skatepark usersÕ group and, when agreed, put the amended design out to tender.

ÒUntil we get the figures through there is also the possibility that we may to loose something in the park in order to keep something else. It is all a bit flexible at the moment.

ÒIf I have the authority to take this forward and go out to tender then hopefully we can get this moving again quickly.Ó

Although pleased that a lease had finally been agreed with the MoD councillors were disappointed that the project has been hit by another set back.

In the past the project has been delayed because a home for the facility could not be found.

Sites including the Mill Chase recreation ground and jubilee park were among those under consideration but various hurdles have stood in the town councilÕs way.

These problems forced the council to turn to the MoD for help in a plea which paved the way for the new agreement.

Mrs Tiley told the council that the delay meant that there was time for local youngsters to give the skatepark their personal touch.

She explained: ÒTown project officer Chris Paterson would like to organise a competition for the youngsters to come up with a design to go on the outside of one of the half-ramps.

ÒHe is quite willing to take this on and approach the schools.Ó

Town councillors welcomed the idea and hoped that it would get local teenagers excited about the project.

ÒIt will give them a sense of ownership,Ó Neil Ockenden said.