A NEW skatepark in Oxford's Cowley Marsh park could be open within 18 months.

The Oxford Wheels Project fought for ten years to get permission to put up a permanent facility for skateboarders and BMX-ers, and was finally given the go-ahead by councillors.

It is now negotiating with Oxford City Council for a lease for the site, and has started planning in earnest for the new £300,000 facility.

Wheels executive officer Jack Richens, 28, said a number of possible funding sources had been identified but said until planning permission had been granted, they had been unable to apply for funding. But he believed now the application had been approved, money would be forthcoming.

He said: "It is going to take some time and there is work in front of us but I am confident the biggest hurdle has been cleared.

"Because we have been established for so long and been so successful we take priority for a lot of the funding boards and all the things that would usually take a great deal of time to get together we already have in place."

He estimated it would take eight to 12 months to secure the cash and eight to 12 weeks to construct the skate park.

Skateboarders are currently using a temporary facility in Meadow Lane, but the ramps are coming to the end of their life and are unlikely to last beyond the end of the year.

Mr Richens said: "We are going to be incorporating a concrete version of the ramps at Meadow Lane because it has been very successful and people are fond of it.

"We are also going to operate deep, flowing bowl sections which are more typical in American skate parks and there will also be a street skating area."

A number of fundraising events, including club nights, barbecues, and an event for National Go Skateboarding Day on Monday, July 21 are also planned.

Mr Richens said he hoped to arrange site visits to similar skate parks for people who had opposed the scheme to allay their concerns.

Among those looking forward to the construction of the new skate park were Jono Wyborn, 18, of Abingdon, and Mark Radbourne, 21, of Headington.

Mr Wyborn said: "It is brilliant news."

Wheels committee member Mr Radbourne said: "In a way we don't really know what to do next, because it has taken so long to get planning permission.

"I am just very happy it is finally going ahead."