Skateboarders need a new place to ride after their town centre meeting place was fenced off.

Decking outside Wyvern Hall in Central Avenue has been a makeshift board and BMX site for youngsters for more than two years.

But the council said it took the decision to seal off the area because it had become a “nuisance” to the occupiers in neighbouring Central House.

A spokesman said the barriers were a temporary measure and were erected after consultation with Kent Police.

She said: “The main reason for the cordon is that the decking has become a health and safety hazard due to constant misuse for the purpose it was originally put in place.”

Tenants at Central House include Avenue Theatre, Age UK and Richwell Accounts.

Last month it was announced the Sittingbourne Skate Park Fund (SSPK), set up by youngsters two years ago, had been offered a two-acre piece of land at Lloyd’s Wharf behind Halfords on the retail park to build a facility for boarders.

It was gifted to the council by Essential Land, the site’s owners, and SSPK is now looking to raise about £200,000 to finance the project.

Jordan Rogers, 17, the group’s chairman, said the installation of barriers outside Wyvern Hall was a blow, but came as no surprise.

“We saw it coming because the floor was getting damaged,” he said.

“It’s annoying, because we don’t have anywhere else to go and Wyvern Hall was a nice flat area to ride and meet-up.

“But people are trying to run a business over there.”

He added: “I’m not sure where we’re going to go now. We’re currently looking for somewhere temporary before the skate park’s built.”

A council spokesman said: “In addition to securing a £30,000 contribution to the Sittingbourne Skate Park Fund, we will continue to support the Skate Park group in any way we can to help the project progress.”

• To find out more about the group’s fundraising, visit www.sittingbourneskate.co.uk