SKATEBOARDERS fear their hopes of building a new skate park could be dashed for ever if a report rules they cannot build in Oxford’s flood plain.

The Wheels Project, which runs temporary ramps in Meadow Lane, East Oxford, has been fighting for more than 10 years to build a permanent skate park at Cowley Marsh Park.

But a year ago the group was told by Oxford City Council that this was impossible, amid concerns among nearby residents about noise.

Now the group is hoping it can be built in Meadow Lane – on the site of the temporary ramps.

However, chairman Jack Richens fears the idea will probably be blocked because the land is part of the flood plain.

Skateboarders met officials from the Environment Agency and Oxford City Council, along with drainage engineers, at the Town Hall to discuss the problems on Tuesday.

The city council said it preferred Meadow Lane over any other possible site, because of its location near the city centre.

Experts will spend the next few weeks carrying out tests to see if the land is suitable.

Mr Richens said: “It’s the only option we have got left to explore in the city, unless the council comes forward with another idea.

“We’re hoping the report comes back positive, but the initial prognosis looks pretty poor.

“If the outcome of the findings isn’t favourable, we will be really stuck.

“It’s a flood plain and you can’t dig into the ground.

“We could build from the ground up, but the Environment Agency said we have to make sure it doesn’t displace any water, which is difficult and expensive to do, and then it depends on what’s underneath the soil – it could be like soup.”

The only other skate parks in Oxford are in Fettiplace Road, Barton, and at Cutteslowe & Sunnymead Park.

The Botley Bowl, just across the city boundary, was put out of action last month when a stolen van was driven into the skate park and set on fire, badly damaging the concrete surface.

Skateboarder Tom Kilpatrick, 33, of Hernes Road, Summertown, said: “I just want the council to acknowledge the demand and be aware of the number of people that pursue this kind of thing as a hobby and career.”

Mr Richens said: “We won’t give up looking for sites but we might have to cast our net further.”

Oxford Wheels Project had raised about £300,000 to pay for a skate park, but most of that has been spent maintaining the temporary ramps.

Council spokesman Louisa Dean said officers were looking at taking ground samples to ensure the Meadow Lane site was suitable for development.

She added: “If the tests show that the site is unsatisfactory, then we’re still committed to look for other suitable alternatives.”

Environment Agency spokes-man Catherine Harrison said it was working with the council to draw up a technical report to find the best site, taking into account flood risk.

It is likely to be published next month.

eallen@oxfordmail.co.uk