A TOWN centre skate park could double in size.

The skate park in Dawes Street would be extended across the street and into an empty car park close by and the footpath to Morrisons would be diverted if plans are given the go ahead.

Skateboarders have welcomed the plans — which include creating a new diverted footpath around it — but a local business boss said he thought the idea was not viable .

Town hall bosses considered moving the skate park to another site but decided to expand the existing park from 637 sq m to 1,275 square metres.

Tasos Pattichis, owner of the nearby Olympus Fish and Chip Restaurant in Great Moor Street, feels skateboarders would be served better with a “bigger and better” park, in a different location. He added: “Skate-boarding is becoming an increasingly popular sport and it is a really important hobby for young people but now we need to take it to the next level.

“The existing park is too small and adding another small bit on is not the way forward, they need something built on a bigger site. I don’t think the council has thought it through.”

The skate park was opened in 2007 after youngsters campaigned for a place to skate in the town centre.

A council spokesman said: “The park has proved to be a very valuable amenity for young people and the facility has so far seen seen very low levels of anti-social behaviour.

“The continued popularity of the site has resulted in the venue becoming oversaturated, with too many young people and not enough space.

“A planning application has been submitted and now there will be further consultation with local businesses and key stakeholders in the project.”

The council also confirmed there are no plans to charge people for using the skatepark if it is expanded.

Asher Tordoff, aged 18, from Heaton, said: “It’s a good idea to make it bigger because young kids have been getting in the way here because there is not enough room for everyone and you don’t want to see them have accidents.”

Luke Martin aged 17, from Halliwell, added: “It’s good because otherwise we would be skating around the town streets all day.” And 17-year old Jay Parker added: “Youngsters do need something to do in the holiday and more people will be able to use it if the facilities are extended.” But the plans were called “disgusting” by Tara James, whose son Kurtis had his bike stolen while he was playing at the skate park, in May. The 38-year-old, from Tonge Moor, said: “Why don’t they pay for more security cameras instead of making it bigger?

“Extending it is just going to give any thieves a bigger opportunity to steal things.”