YOUNGSTERS in Eastleigh could be in for a treat this summer if skatepark plans are completed on time.

The first phase of a recreational development on the edge of the town, which has been promoted by Eastleigh Council for two years, could arrive by the beginning of August.

Following a report made to the Eastleigh Local Area Committee, which included feedback from a working group set up last year to get the park off the ground, councillors voted to move forward with the first steps of the development in Stoney Croft Rise off Chestnut Avenue.

The initial phase will be a scaled-down version of the original £730,000 scheme backed by councillors in January 2003. This included a skatepark, multi-use games area, a BMX track, dirt bike area, youth shelter and pavilion.

In a report to the committee, council chiefs said: "The cost of developing a scheme provided with a permanent pavilion facility as originally envisaged would not be possible within the available budget."

Eastleigh Council's team leader of design Julian Davies said: "The priority now is to get the skatepark up and running and then leave the door open for further developments. We haven't ruled out a BMX track or anything else. This is just a lower scale scheme to the one we got planning permission for."