Instead of hanging around on street corners, Oxford youngsters could be whizzing around a new skateboard park.

A survey carried out by the city council found the overwhelming majority of people living near Cowley Marsh Park would like to see a skate park at the recreation ground.

More than 160 householders backed the idea of a small skate park and only 60 voted for other options, such as an all-weather pitch or upgrading the tennis courts.

The city council has allocated £173,721 to improve the park and the cash could be used to fund a skateboarding facility.

The Oxford Wheels Project, which has set up skate parks in Meadow Lane, East Oxford, and in Cutteslowe, hopes to be involved.

Jack Richens, of the project, spoke to Cowley councillors at a meeting to persuade them of the benefits of a bigger, better skateboard facility.

He said: "A skate park is going to reduce crime and liven up the park and bring some life to Cowley. Oxford deserves it.

"The city pales in comparison to other cities for skateboard facilities. At the moment Saffron Walden and Stoke-on-Trent are leading the way. But Oxford has a thriving skate scene and has produced three world class skateboarders.

"The skate park at Meadow Lane is a temporary facility constructed out of wood. We have had our eye on Cowley Marsh Park for a while.

"If you were going to build a swimming facility would you build lots of little paddling pools or would you build one big pool?"

Ed Wood, 18, of St Anne's Road, Headington, who uses Meadow Lane skate parks for BMXing, said: "The Meadow Lane park is coming to the end of its life. Cowley Marsh would be ideal as it's a central location."

A £37,000 skateboard park was set up in Aristotle Lane, north Oxford, in April 2002 but closed a month later after complaints about noise. It was classed as a statuary nuisance and the city council was found guilty of maladminstration, as it did not undertake noise tests first.

Speaking at the meeting, councillor Ruth Beer said: "Over the years people have mentioned the idea of a skate park several times. I really welcome the suggestion but extensive consultation needs to be carried out as we wouldn't want the fiasco with Aristotle Lane to happen again."

Councillors agreed more detailed consultation would be carried out before a final decision was made.