PEOPLE in Illogan are being invited to attend a consultation afternoon this month to discuss the possibility of a skateboard park being built in the village.

The meeting, hosted by the parish council, will take place at Illogan village hall on Thursday, January 15, from 3 to 7pm. Members of the council's advisory group and the Sk8 4 Illogan committee will be available, as well as representatives from other agencies including Devon and Cornwall Police and the community regeneration team at Kerrier district council.

Plans of the facility will also be available for comment, in addition to information about the project's development so far.

Community regeneration officer for Illogan, Bryony Veale, said: "We are reaching a critical stage in the development of this project and it's vital that all those that can come along to support this project, as well as using the opportunity to ask questions or make comment on the proposed facility. Once this process has taken place we will be in a position to apply for grants that can enable this project to commence."

Skaters and their parents have been campaigning for seven years for the development of the facility. The campaign resulted in the formation of the Sk8 4 Illogan committee in June 2002.

The parish council gave the facility its support in July, forming a sub-group to drive the scheme to completion. The project is now fast approaching a stage where a planning application will be submitted for an area of land in Illogan Park, and a lease for this plot obtained from Kerrier council.

Illogan parish councillor Carl Close, who is chairman of the wheeled sports advisory committee, said: "The proposed facility not only seeks to benefit potential users, but also to reduce the current nuisance to residents as a result of the lack of youth amenities within the community."

Viv Harris, a parent and secretary of the Sk8 4 Illogan committee, said "It's been a long time coming, but this is a very exciting time for us as parents and for the young people of Illogan. We are looking forward to the consultation afternoon and the opportunity to answer questions and put people's minds at rest."