SKATERS in Spen will be able to practise their sport after dark without fear of interference from yobs thanks to a grant for floodlights.
Spen Valley Skate Park on Leeds Road has been granted approval for four floodlights at a maximum cost of 22,800.
Community recreation officer Neil Gamewell appealed to the Spen Valley area committee on Tuesday by showing a film featuring some of the skaters making their case for the floodlights.
The film showed skaters conducting a postal survey, which found that people living close to the skate park were in favour of floodlights being added.
It showed how dangerous skating in the dark could be, and featured skaters complaining about yobs using the site for anti-social behaviour and crime.
They said the skate park gets taken over by gangs of "chavs" after dark, who drink, take drugs and fight.
A report to the area committee said a skip and a fence at the site were set on fire last autumn.
It added: "This required the involvement of the police and fire service and has resulted in the need to revisit the issue of lighting and security at the venue.
"Often there are a greater number of non-skaters at the park which can be confrontational with the skaters.
"Young people use the skate park as a venue to meet for fights which at times the skaters can get caught in the middle of."
Floodlights would also improve CCTV coverage at the site, the report said.
Approving the funding, Coun Ann Raistrick (Lib Dem, Liversedge and Gomersal) said: "We have been grappling with what we can do about the kids going down there and creating a bad image."
