As requested, here is a (almost definitely dated already) update about the Skate Park. I was not at the meeting and cannot report on that but essentially what happened was as follows (detail and clarification invited):

Proposals were made and cases put relating to the future and the rebuilding of the Skate Park, now it is closed for safety reasons as a result of wet rot. For reasons and arguments which I am sure we will hear more about a vote was cast and found 8 to 7 against supporting these proposals.  However, an observant onlooker later questioned this and it turned out to be an administrative error; the vote was in fact, even at 8 to 8.  

This was a genuine mistake and not out of any malice, but it means that the decision needs to be reviewed and herein lie some complexities, which I will not pretend to have looked into.   Advice is, or by now probably has been, sought.   Another meeting is likely to take place and the proposals and context of the votes cast revisited, and hopefully a conclusion drawn which can outline the future for the skate park.

It is said that students at Whitstone School have spoken passionately about this matter and it seems that it is unlikely to go away, regardless of the outcome of any future meetings, however.

What was and was not voted for or against appears to need clarification and so any subsequent review of what is apparently a simple 'for or against' from the view of those campaigning for the opportunity to keep the skate park and BMX track going, and in it's current location, may well be a positive thing.

Nothing in this claims to be authoritative as described above and we wait for substantive facts/minute reports and conclusions of retrospective reviews, but this is the information available at the moment, and updates will follow.

Many thanks John. This sounds more promising than some young people feel it is (I think I said in one way or other - it's hard to "vote against" the Skate Park when the benefits are obvious...its like voting 'in principle' against kittens!). I hope for everyone's sake that a working party doesn't equal stalling. It would be great to see the fundraising efforts get going immediately, even if that has to be at nil cost to the council.

As per your final point...'no comment' made with greater than 5 exclamation marks IS a comment ;)

One aspect that I didn't really see emphasised was the health of tomorrows residents of Somerset.
This is beyond a "green field use" and "cost of safety checks" this is health and prosperity projected long into the future.

Most of the Nay Sayers were I assume on pensions or looking towards one, someone has to work to pay for those, a healthy motivated and balanced society does not come from a childhood spent hiding away from sunlight, exercise and sitting like mice frightened to offend the previous generations.
We are facing a rise in diabetes, heart conditions and obesity, where is the councils plan for that? how does that epidemic measure in the anaemic "voted in favour of setting up a working party to see if a new skate park was a viable and affordable option." nowhere.

Calculate in the cost of medicating obesity related conditions for the next 80 years, I don't mean just for the kids who use the ramps or track add in the others who walk up there to be with friends, oh and the stress reduced parents who get some time to themselves knowing the kids are not roaming the street looking for something to do.
These young souls could live to 100, what sort of grounding are we giving them if we are not prepared to welcome this self funded project?
We are at a critical point for the health of Shepton, Somerset, Western-World, the phrase "Wake up and smell the coffee" is I believe apposite.

I tried to think what would be within the understanding of those councillors who don't feel the appeal of these modern meeting places, then something came to me.
Think in terms of dancing in the village hall, a healthy social occupation that may have lead to laughter lasting maybe even life-long friendships and all in a package that makes you feel good and healthy.
This project can be seen as the youngsters looking to build their own dance floor, they don't want much from the council, just the nod that they can have access to the land for long enough to make it practical.

The local kids are generally well behaved intelligent and motivated, shock horror that won't get in the paper! Spend some time up the skate park, talk to the users ask them what it means to them, check out the smiles then try to back into that hand wringing, I dare you.