SKATEBOARDERS are demanding their money back from Alderholt parish council after the first phase of their much-wanted skatepark was dismantled.

After almost four years of pushing for a skate park in the rural village, the skaters and BMX riders are still making the two-mile journey on a "dangerous" stretch of road to use Fordingbridge's skate facilities.

In a letter sent to The Forest Journal, the Alderholt Skaters claim they were told by Alderholt parish council that if they raised £1,000, council members would "get a grant for the rest".

That was almost four years ago.

After organising two charity gig performances, a car boot sale, and putting a collection box in the village, the Alderholt Skaters raised £1,300, which they passed to the parish council towards the project.

After discussions with Fordingbridge town council a half-pipe was purchased from Alderholt parish council funds, and built in the recreation ground, where it was well used.

But two weeks ago the ramp was removed and now the skaters are already "fed-up" with travelling to Fordingbridge to use the town's skate park and are once again "desperate" for their own facilities.

In a letter to The Forest Journal one skater stated: "In all we raised about £1,300 and thought we would soon have a skate park.

"Last Saturday I was walking back from Fordingbridge skate park at 6pm and nearly got run down by a car.

"It is not a good road to walk in day light and now it gets dark early it's getting dangerous.

"What have the parish council done with our money? It was raised for a skate park nothing else.

If they are not building it they should give the money back to the skaters."

David Took, chairman of Alderholt parish council, explained that the council is disappointed that there are no skate facilities in Alderholt.

"Members have been consistently working through a series of difficulties to provide a skate park for the youths in the village," he said.

"In July 2004 the purchase of a half pipe skate ramp was to be the first phase of a new skate park at the recreation ground.

Working with young people to raise funds and applying for grants would hopefully raise the funds to purchase more equipment.

"However, a tiny minority of residents who objected from noise from the ramp stopped any further additions to the project and throughout 2005 East Dorset district council's environmental health department carried out a series of noise surveys.

"In February 2006 EDDC advised the parish council that the skate ramp was likely to cause a statutory noise nuisance and if further ramps were located in the same area a noise nuisance would be unavoidable."

Mr Took explained that a youth advisory group had been set up from a number of organisations including Dorset Police and the parish plan group to investigate ways the skate ramp could comply with noise regulations.

Now it has been agreed that a skate park on the same site using low noise equipment is the only feasible option.

He added: "A combination of essential maintenance repairs to the half-pipe and the noise order have forced a decision that the half-pipe be removed now.

"In order to comply with noise regulations the equipment will be more costly and therefore more funding is required.

"Grant applications are being finalised and all fund raising monies for these projects are being independently from parish council funds."

If any young people would like to join the parish council youth group they can get in touch Maria on 01425 657587.