A TOWN centre skatepark could be open in Bolton within eight weeks after a site was earmarked by councillors.

Part of a car park to the east of Dawes Street, off Great Moor Street, will become the £75,000 skatepark, if proposals are given planning consent.

Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said work on the purpose-built outdoor park, could begin within weeks and be completed by June.

The announcement is a major victory for teenagers who led a campaign for a new place to skate in Bolton.

Joe Cowie, aged 15, gathered a 500-name petition from skaters across the town demanding action.

The teenager, of Ripon Avenue, Heaton, said: "It's fantastic news. Everyone I know will be ecstatic.

"While we've been off school this week we've had to travel to Ince to skate which is a long way to go to practise a sport."

Skaters have been banned from using Victoria Square to practise and were left with nowhere to skate locally after the closure of Bones skatepark on Gilnow Lane, Deane.

Instead, they have been forced to travel as far as Wigan and Manchester to use purpose-built ramps there.

The new site was announced yesterday by Cllr Cliff Morris.

He said Dawes Street had been the front runner of a number of sites.

"This site is in the town centre which is exactly what the young people wanted. We have looked very closely at what has been done in other towns.

"The site will have to go through the same process as any other development but the feedback we've had so far is that people are happy that there will be a town centre skatepark."

A report on the preferred site will go before the council's executive for consideration on April 16.

Tory councillors have promised to trump the plan with a park costing £250,000 if they take control of the town hall next month after local elections.

Cllr Stuart Lever said: "This is a blatant attempt at grabbing headlines and winning votes. What we are proposing will take in to account the long-term needs of Bolton's youth - £75,000 doesn't buy you much in terms of a skatepark.

"I think what Cllr Morris is proposing would fit on the site of about eight parking spaces.

"By working with Bolton Lads and Girls Club as we have proposed all along, we can access a lot of money and have a properly maintained and organised skatepark in the town centre."