A SKATE park is needed at a new development on the site of Sturminster Newton’s Old Creamery.

That’s the view of town councillors who recently considered an application to build a care home, shops, offices and homes at the site of the iconic building in Station Road.

Civic leaders at the town council have long held ambitions for a skate park, with Cllr Michael Read saying the Creamery is the only possible location.

“ If it doesn’t go here, there isn’t anywhere else,” said Cllr Read. “The skate park would be fairly near the town centre, without putting people off shopping. “And it would be fairly easy to police, because it would be overlooked by some residential properties, which would keep the kids on their toes,” he added.

But an office block is already planned for the south-western corner of the site.

Cllr Read said adjustments to the draft plan could be made to accommodate the park, partly by moving houses planned for the southern edge of the site into a proposed green area on the eastern side.

Fellow councillors are backing Cllr Read’s proposed amendments and will now enter discussions with the planning department at North Dorset District Council.

Land near the leisure centre has been ruled out as a possible location for the park by the town council. Council leader Cllr Victor Fox said three projects were already proposed for land adjacent to the Honeymead Lane facility.

Sturminster Newton High School has put an all- weather sports pitch at the top of the agenda for the space, he added.