A skatepark will be built in Port St Mary if £75,000 of funding is secured.

The proposal has been on the table for years. It was first suggested by Scoill Phurt le Moirrey and picked up by Ray Lakeman, whose two boys Jacques and Torin, then aged 20 and 19, died of a drug overdose in 2014.

Ray explained: ’We had a memorial service at Living Hope Community Church for the boys. There was a huge turn out, the community was so supportive, Sarah (Lakeman) and I really needed it. On February 27, 2015, it would have been Jacques’ 21st birthday, Sarah and I decided it would be nice to give something back, I spoke to the commissioner Mark O’Meara, and asked if there was any project we could support, he told us the school was interested in a skatepark.

’I spoke to the head teacher, we had a concert at the town hall and raised just over £1,000 to help the skatepark get going, then for one reason and another it disappeared.

’They got a new head teacher. We wanted to do fundraising, it would have been Torin’s 21st, there was a new board of commissioners and we got other people involved, Kristian Edwards was interested, and Sport Erin, we had the support of the commissioners, all we need now is to raise money.’

The project, called Jactor Skatepark after the brothers, was launched recently at Scoill Phurt le Moirrey.

’The students were keen as mustard to have a go, we gave them a demo,’ said Kristian Edwards, who is part of Isle of Man Skateboarding (ISB), which is supporting the project. The reaction is incredibly positive, it’s such a popular thing. It’s a space of recreation for everyone.’

Mr Edwards said: ’I believe there should be a good quality skatepark within reasonable distance for every child.

’It would help to tackle the obesity problem. At the skatepark at Braddan, there are 30 to 50 people using it, they are all exercising and these are not the kids whose parents can afford to take them to the gym etc. We are talking about a family recreational space.’

He added there are too few facilities for teenagers in the island: ’Kids after primary school are just forgotten about, they are left to do what I did 20 years ago, we have not made progress.

’We are still dealing with politicians who think skateparks breed anti social behaviour, it’s an unbelievable attitude.

’It gives them a place they can go to and meet other young people. They have total respect for each other, you have to be brave and they know that. I have never seen any trouble.’

Mr Edwards said a ramp made from concrete is the safest and most durable option otherwise those made of metal degrade and fall out of use.

The ramp will go on land by the playground at the edge of the golf course. Plans have been drawn up.

A charity is being established and funding is being sought.

Ray said: ’We had a skateboard in the garage, it’s something my boys would have approved of.

’It would be really nice to have a facility which would be of huge benefit to local kids, it will be state of the art, top notch.

’I’m sure there’s enough good will, enough people to support it, it will last for a long time and is much needed.’

More information is available on the Facebook page ’Jactor Skatepark’.