PLANS for a skatepark in Winchcombe are forging ahead, despite the opposition of residents living near the proposed site.

Winchcombe Town Council says that a "massive majority" of townspeople are in favour of the project, which was first proposed in 2013.

And the council hopes to send a planning application for the project in to Tewkesbury Borough Council before long.

But residents' group Winchcombe Residents Against the Proposed Skatepark (WRAPS) says that the proposal will bring vandalism, anti-social behaviour and noise in its wake.

Resident Edward Laing said: "The council's plans show the concrete urban skate as the 'wheeled sports area' which, quite frankly, is an insult to everybody's intelligence. Like most politicians these days they appear to have no idea of what the people want."

Stuart Maughan, who chairs the town council's playing fields committee, said: "Plans are progressing well but funding is obviously a major factor to delivering something excellent. Winchcombe Town Council has consulted locally and listened carefully to local residents.

"We have taken the feedback and worked closely with the landscape architects, who are specialists, to come up with new design for phase 1 and sketch design for phase 2 of the park, taking this feedback into consideration. Next steps are to go back to Tewkesbury [Borough Council] with a detailed planning application.

"We have a massive majority of local support for the project but we still listened to the concerns of a small number of neighbours to the park who have been vocal.

"We have made changes in order to try and resolve their issues and as with any planning application local residents will have a further chance to make further representation for Tewkesbury Borough Council to review."

The cost of the park is estimated at £200,000, but WRAPS says the money could be better spent elsewhere.

Ben Sutton of the group said: "If we're going to shake the magic money tree let's do it for something the community actually supports, like Winchcombe Food Bank, care in the community, or for keeping the library open."