NEGOTIATIONS for a skateboard park in the Charmouth Road car park at Lyme will be re-opened, if the council's recreations committee has its way.

It made the recommendation for renewed talks with the district council, the landowner, at Wednesday night's meeting after chairman Coun Ken Whetlor said that any sensible council would abandon the proposed Monmouth beach site after an independent expert had said the noise level would be unacceptable and potentially actionable.

Backing the Charmouth Road car park site, Coun Whetlor said the committee should take the lead. Four or five years ago, when the site was first considered, it was said the gradient would be too steep for the equipment, but the situation had changed with the latest gear.

Coun Barbara Austin said that previously the young people had rejected the site because it was too far out of town, while some of the parents had said the road to the car park was dangerous. "That factor still remains," she said.

"The area is very isolated," said Coun Michaela Ellis who felt that land near the former cadet hut might be used but was told it would be too narrow.

Retorted Coun Owen Lovell: "They need a secluded spot to avoid noise complaints," while Coun Stan Williams said the park could be illuminated with more lights and equipped with more seats. "The kids will love it," he maintained.

Coun Sally Holman said youngsters at a public meeting had expressed a preference for Charmouth Road, but Coun Spencer Hogg favoured a site in the Davey Fort area where their activity would generate car-parking income.

Coun Lorna Jenkin said the development trust wanted to be involved in the skateboard park debate, but Coun Williams said he believed this might cause unnecessary delay.

"It could make this go on for weeks; we must get on with it now," he exclaimed.

Coun Austin said there was an area of the children's playing field, which could be used because it did not fall within a restrictive covenant.

"However, it is in a residential area and will be ruled out by the noise factor," she said. That's a pity." Councillor Hogg was assured that all possibility of a skateboard park at Strawberry Field had been ruled out for the time being.