THE battle to build a new skatepark at Portishead's Lake Grounds is not over, after campaigners revealed they will be appealing against the council's decision to throw out the plans.

The Portishead Skatepark Project (PSP) submitted plans to North Somerset Council earlier this year to build a new skate and BMX park on a piece of land between the children's play area and the boathouse.

But the application was rejected by councillors who said the Lake Grounds – described as the jewel in Portishead's crown – was the wrong place for it.

They said it would lead to an increase in antisocial behaviour at the beauty spot, which is already a night time haunt for teenage drinkers.

Councillors said that although they supported the idea of a new skatepark, it had to be in a different location.

Other sites are now being considered, including a piece of land, owned by Portishead Town Council, at Portishead Football Club at Clevedon Road.

Members of PSP have met local councillors to discuss the project further and consider alternative sites, but have now confirmed that they will be appealing against the refusal decision.

PSP chairman Tony Mosely said: "It was a good meeting and we were pleased that the councillors are positively supporting our efforts to get a new skatepark.

"We are looking forward to further meetings in the near future where hopefully progress can be made.

"We are committed to working with councillors to find a suitable location but, as we have already discovered, finding a site that we know will be successful in the long term and that can get through both the planning process and gain landlord's consent is very difficult.

"We have therefore decided that in order to keep all our options open for the future, we will be appealing against the refusal of planning permission for the Lake Grounds location.

"This is our fallback position and certainly does not mean that we will not consider the other sites being discussed."

Even if planning is allowed, the site is owned by North Somerset Council which will have to grant landlord's consent before the project can go ahead.

The new skatepark is expected to cost in the region of £200,000, which will be funded by grants and local fundraising.

PSP initially identified 14 potential areas including land at Bristol Road, a plot next to Parish Wharf Leisure Centre and Kilkenny Fields.

It was initially hoped to site the new skate park on a piece of land next to the leisure centre, but this was rejected on the grounds it was too close to local homes and could cause disturbance to local residents. A small skate park was opened at Merlin Park in 2003 for £12,500, but as the popularity of the sport has soared so has the need for a bigger facility.