The public have given a cautious yes to the idea of a skate park in Illogan, but many with homes near the proposed site still have concerns about the plans.

A consultation day, held earlier this month, resulted in only 23 objections from a total of 169 responses. However, residents with homes near the planned site, in Illogan Park, approached the parish council with concerns that the skate park could lead to noise, vandalism and even bring down property values.

Resident Joe Thomas, whose house adjoins the park addressed the parish council at a meeting last week: "I am speaking on behalf of a lot of other people this evening who have serious concerns about these plans," he sadi. "Most people accept that we need to channel the energies of the young people in this parish. But following the consultation day we became aware of the precise scale of this skate park.

"We believe it is going to be a Mecca for skaters from outside of Illogan and there will be the potential for excessive noise."

Mr Thomas said the plans were likely to compound problems that he said were already rife in the town including drinking, vandalism, motorcycles being ridden on pathways and difficulties with parking and access to the site.

"We've been there before and bought the T-shirt. I think you should consider all sections of the society and I hope you will continue to search for a suitable site, but not at the cost of people who live around Illogan Park," he said.

Chairman of the parish council's wheeled sports advisory committee, Carl Close, said that from the area surveyed around the park there had been objections, but there were more in the area in support of the scheme.

Mr Close told the meeting that evidence suggested vandalism and crime actually go down when a skate park is introduced to a community, but added that the results of the consultation would have to be passed on to the next meeting of the committee for "profound examination."

Speaking before the meeting, Community Regeneration Officer Bryony Veale said: "The outcome was positive, residents were pleased to be given the opportunity to voice their concerns."

Miss Veale said that as a result of the discussion new access routes are being considered that would be located further away from the surrounding cul-de-sacs.

The vote was noted by Viv Harris, secretary of SK8 4 Illogan, whose group has been campaigning for the park for two years. "I am beginning to feel that this might happen. It's like living the dream," she said.

If plans go ahead Kerrier district council will submit a planning application. So far, SK8 4 Illogan has raised £2,000, but a further £50,000 is needed from external funding.