Young people put on their business heads to push forward plans for a skate and bike park in their neigbourhood.

Around 20 youngsters from Queenborough and Rushenden met prospective designers who gave their pitches on how they would build the park in Whiteway Road, Queenborough.

The project, a joint initiative between Sheppey Detached Youth – a group of youth workers at Kent County Council, Swale council, The Gateway Centre, in Rushenden, and Queenborough Town Council, has been two years in the planning.

Now it is a case of choosing a developer and securing funding.

Representatives from four design companies gave their ideas on layout and equipment that will be installed. They answered questions from the young people who also gave their input.

The next step will be for the borough council to whittle them down to three, and then the young people of Rushenden and Queenborough will choose who they want to build the park.

It will be funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the youngsters involved will apply to Kent Youth Capital Fund – a council fund for building project – extra funding.

Dan Pyke , youth worker with Sheppey Detached Youth, said: “We would like it to get under way as soon as possible. This was a great opportunity for the young people of the Island to have their say and get involved in something they want.”

Also at the meeting on Wednesday the young people gave a presentation to officers from Swale council asking for the ball court in Manor Road, Rushenden, to be fixed and maintained.

Five youngsters made their case for getting the lights at the park repaired and the shelter and fences fixed.

Mr Pike said: “They did a fantastic presentation. They took responsibility and it is brilliant when young people take responsibility for what’s going on in their community. One of our aims on the Island is getting young people to take ownership and that’s what they did.”

Graeme Tuff , Swale council’s green spaces officer, said: “It was an excellent opportunity for the young people to get their needs over to the designers and we were really pleased with the results and how it went.”