THERE are fears a lack of outdoor skateparks in Swindon is forcing families away from the town during the school holidays.

Diana Kirk, who runs an indoor facility across the road from the Oasis leisure centre, says youngsters are being driven miles from town to get their four-wheeled fix.

She thinks this means Swindon’s economy is missing out.

Diana told the Adver: “We’ve been busy over half-term because of the weather but parents have been saying that when it’s dry they won’t know where to send their kids.

“Parents are driving so far to use an outdoor skatepark. For Swindon, if we had more places, it could increase the revenue coming in.

“Some have come all the way to our indoor park, dropped the kids off and then gone shopping at the Outlet.

“It’s a boost to the economy.”

Diana runs the ATBShop SkateWarehouse in Newcombe Drive and has been campaigning for more parks, including a refurbishment of the area already next to the Oasis.

She said: “The town centre is dire. It’s why we moved our shop out and over here.

“If they refurbished the park by the Oasis then parents could drop their kids off and then go into the town centre. It could make Swindon a destination.”

More outdoor facilities could hit Diana's business but she says she wouldn't mind if it meant more children could get involved in skating.

She added: “We put this indoor skatepark in because there wasn’t anything else.

“It was supposed to be temporary. I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life.

“I enjoy it but I don’t want to retire still running a skatepark.”

But Swindon Borough Councillor Keith Williams argued Swindon has plenty to offer.

He said: “There are free-to-use parks.

"The Rivermead skatepark is heavily used and we know because we’ve had to put in two litter bins instead of one.

“Ultimately it’s down to the parishes but Rivermead is very popular with skaters and bikers.

"We’re even looking at putting a BMX track in at West Swindon.

“You can’t provide everything for everyone but the ones we do have are well used.”