Businesswoman Lucy Wain is hoping to open her long-awaited new venture, an indoor skatepark, in Devizes this Saturday.

Ramp Nation is based in a former industrial unit next to Jewson’s 5,000 square foot wood store on the Garden Trading Estate on London Road. Mrs Wain and her husband Keith got planning permission for the venture in May but it has taken until now to get everything ready for the opening.

Mrs Wain said: “At last we plan to open on Saturday. I say “plan” because we are aware that there may be a hitch or two before then, but we will announce it to our 600 followers on Facebook this week.

“The skatepark has become a huge project and the response from riders has been overwhelming, with people contacting us from places such as Bristol, Gloucester, Southampton, Portsmouth and Chile.”

Devizes has been without a skatepark for ten years, since the town council one in Hillworth Park had to be dismantled after the council was taken to court by a neighbour who complained about noise and anti-social behaviour.

Young skateboarders and BMX bikers have been reduced to practising in the Market Place and Station Road car park. An unofficial BMX track beside Devizes Cemetery was bulldozed by owners the Merchant Venturers after complaints from visitors to the cemetery.

The Devizes Area Board has been looking, so far without success, for an alternative location for an outdoor skatepark, so Mr and Mrs Wain’s enterprise has been widely welcomed.

Mrs Wain said: “I have had lots of excited youngsters getting in touch with me wanting to help in any way they can.

“I have even had older people in their 20s who used to skateboard asking to be involved. I think the fact that there were no objections to my planning application shows the support there is for it.”

The skatepark will be open from 4pm to 9pm on Thursday and Friday, 10am to 9pm on Saturdays and 10am to 6pm on Sundays. Full details of opening times and charges are available online at www.rampnation.co.uk