Plans for a badly needed skateboarding facility in Rayleigh town centre have suffered a further setback, it emerged today.

A row has been going on for a year between the town council and Rochford District Council over the siting of the planned specialist ramp in King George's playing field.

The town council wanted a site near the doctors' surgery in Eastwood Road, but this was rejected by the district council.

An appeal to a Government inspector by the town council has now also been turned down because of the disruption it could cause to patients.

The inspector upheld the district council's view that there could be noise problems at the surgery if there was a skateboarding rank nearby.

The district council put forward a site near the children's playground at the other end of the field, but the town council felt this was too close to nearby homes.

Rayleigh town clerk Barbara Larken said: "We have only just heard of the decision and we will have to look at its implications."

A spokesman for Rochford District Council said it was now for the town council to make a decision as the appeal had been dismissed.

Published Tuesday August 13, 2002

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