FOUR enterprising friends from Hurn could be a step closer to getting some much-needed facilities for youngsters after calling on the council to provide a local skate park.

The schoolboys – Billy and Nat Cranham and Flynn and Joe Wearden – presented a petition signed by 99 residents of Hurn to the parish council recently.

They were then called to Christchurch Borough Council to present it to borough councillors.

The group of mates aged 11 to 14- years-old, who live opposite each other, want somewhere they can go that caters for their age group.

Billy, 13, said: “We don’t want to upset people by playing on our scooters in the street but there isn’t much choice at the moment.

“The only place for us to play is in the road, which is dangerous.

“We just think it would be good for people of our age to have something for us here.”

The nearest skate facilities to Hurn are Waterman’s Park at Somerford and The Arena at Two Riversmeet – both at the far end of the borough and difficult to access via public transport.

Mum of Billy and Nat, Julie Cranham said: “They have to rely on us to be able to take them to these places and they want to be more independent.

“They are really responsible children and I’m really proud of them.

“They’ve done this all off their own backs.”

The youngsters said they are willing to fundraise with their parents and Hurn Parish Council to contribute towards the cost of a facility.

At a meeting of Christchurch council’s community services committee, the boys were praised for their work with councillors vowing to work with the parish council to identify a suitable location for a mobile skate park.