HUNDREDS of youngsters will get to decide exactly what they want from a major skateboard park for Haverfordwest during a two-day boarding extravaganza next week.

As the boarders descend upon Withybush Showground for a unique skateboard festival on October 30 and 31, they will be asked to choose between three potential designs for a skateboard park for the county town.

The chosen design will then go to the county council to apply for planning permission for a site at Picton Playing fields in Haverfordwest.

Treasurer Richard Blacklaw-Jones told the Merc: "The skate association exists to get a skateboard park in Haverfordwest and the skate festival is trying to hit a few different nails at the same time.

"We have had meetings with skaters over 12 months and asked them where they would want the park to go and their conclusion was that it should be on the Picton playing fields.

"We asked what they wanted, what sort of design and layout, and came up with three different choices from the skateboarders' input. On the two days of the festival we will be showing artists' impressions of the layout and asking people to vote for their favourite."

During the festival Withybush showground will be transformed into a Mecca for skateboarders with two full street courses and mini-ramps.

The two-day event will also cater for in-line skaters and BMX fans and represents the culmination of a year's work by the skate association.

Important sponsorship for the event has come from the county council and it is hoped that the festival could become an annual event.

And with up to £100,000 needed for a state-of-the-art park, the money raised will be very important.

Said Mr Blacklaw-Jones: "We are charging admission to raise funds to bring about the aim of getting the skateboard park. Hopefully it will be the first of a series of different events.

"As well as admission fees we will be collecting information about the people at the festival, where they come from, what they are into, in-line skating, BMX and if they are already members of the association.

"It's all about generating information to prove the need for such a facility." With shows by professional skateboarders and BMX bikers the festival looks all set to raise the profile of the issue of providing facilities for enthusiasts in Haverfordwest.