A NEW skatepark will be built in Selby following calls from a local school.

Pupils from Selby High School presented a petition to the Executive meeting of Selby District Council on Thursday (APR 3), on behalf of a number of schools around the town.

The pupils had reviewed facilities around the region and also gave the council suggestions on how it could be constructed alongside the replacement for the Selby Abbey Leisure Centre.

Following their presentation, council leader Mark Crane confirmed a new skatepark would be included as part of the new development, as the current skatepark has been closed during the ongoing construction work at the Scott Road site.

Councilor Crane, said: "I can 100 per cent guarantee that there will be a skatepark on the site once the leisure centre is open. It's unfortunate that we've had to temporarily close the facilities, but I am really keen to get this open again as soon as possible.

"The representatives from Selby High, speaking on behalf of a number of schools, did a really good job at putting together a wealth of information to support their petition. We've listened and taken on board their comments."

Work has already begun on the new leisure centre, which will cost about £6 million, with a £2 million grant from Sport England, and will include up to 100 pieces of equipment, a class and exercise studio, a sauna and steam room, and two swimming pools - a training pool and a six-lane 25m pool.

The new centre, which will also include an all-weather pitch, is expected to be complete by next year.