Frome needs a new - world class - skate park - it is that simple.

With an explosion in popularity of scooting and skating in the town and the well-documented positive physical and mental benefits, it is, according to campaigners, simply baffling why a town of Frome's size doesn't have a park to match.

As Frome Nub News went to find out from one of the youngster's leading the campaign and soon-to-be-launched fundraiser to pay for it, the popularity is not in dispute.

We met 15 year old Frome College student Ed Bucklow at the current ramps adjacent to Victoria Park, and even on a damp and overcast morning, there were plenty of enthusiastic skate boarders and scooters on show.

Ed, who started the project to get Frome a skate park it deserves, around 18 months ago, told us: " Why do we need another skate park if we have this ?

" Well this is no longer fit for use and when it was built there wasn't a big investment in what was the best kind of skate park and what would be the best for skate boarders. So while this is fun, and always busy, it is not enough for a town of Frome's size. Warminster, Wincanton, Midsomer Norton - they are all smaller than Frome but they all have better skate parks ."

The park is also aging badly

Ed explained: " It is not big enough for the numbers who use it but also where the ramps are placed there is not a 'flow' created in the skate park. The current ramps are also now so old that they are starting to deteriorate, there are cracks and lumps so that means that they are will soon not be safe. "

So Ed along with fellow skate boarder Noah began their campaign to build a better park, and they have support of Young Somerset and Frome Town Council, but they will also need to get some serious funding, with new skate board spending needed in the region of £350,000. But as an event in August at the Cheese & Grain showed - there is a huge passion for the sport, especially among the young.

Back in August Ed was one of those who organised the first dedicated event to raise awareness of the need for a new park, and a temporary raft of temporary skate ramps, kickers, and ledges teased the potential options of what a well-designed park in Frome could look like.

It would also be a collaborative effort, uniting the skateboarding community with scooters, BMX riders, musicians and even graffiti and street artists.

The proposed location for Frome's new skatepark would be still Victoria Park, but why not build elsewhere ?

Ed answers: " Building where there is already a park, makes it easier in terms of planning and space, so we would not need to apply for planning permission. This is the best location it would be more difficult to get it somewhere else and we would need land, which is hard, but we know we can already build it here.

" Skate boarding is very popular in Frome, as you could see from the event held in August, there is no doubt how many skaters there are in the town, and the huge amount of support. What we need now is for the project to get really energised - we want people to run their own fundraising events, buy merchandise to support us, donate once we have a fundraising page started."

One event to put into the diary : On December 10 at 23 Bath Street is a special Drum and Bass night when there will also be a silent auction with all the profits to the skate project. Details of the event, run by James Davidson of Deep Space Records projects in Shepton Mallet coming soon on our What's On page. That is HERE: where everyone is welcome to post their events

Ed said : " We need as many people to get behind us as possible. Skate boarding is not just great for physical and mental health, it is great for making connections, making friends and being part of something social.

"Skate boarding and music are also well connected they fit in this vibe - so skate boarding is lively and attracts all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds. "

And unlike many sports, there is not a huge financial deterrent to joining in.

" When you start up if you are just a beginner a skateboard can last for years, so lots of young people can just come along and start skate boarding, it means access for all."