Welshpool town council admitted it is “in the dark” over the development of a new skatepark for the town as councillors tried to push the project forward.
Town councillors were left wondering what the status of the proposed skatepark for Welshpool is, as progress seems to have stalled after an initial public consultation and draft designs earlier this year.
The issue was brought up at a meeting on September 5, as councillors heard that a full cost rundown from specialist designer Canvas is waiting to be delivered, as well as a meeting with a new funding officer from the National Lottery.
Cllr Phil Pritchard said: “This has been an item on our agendas for at least the past four years. I think it’s totally unfair to the town and the athletic people involved in skateboarding that we’ve got nothing for them to do and are not supplying anything for them to do.
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“I’ve heard excuses for the past five years. It’s not good enough and somebody has to do some action and get us to the situation where this committee knows exactly what’s going to happen. For the past five years we’ve been left completely in the dark and can’t answer the questions posed to us by the townspeople.”
Cllr David France added: “I share the frustrations of this committee and town and agree this needs to be moved along as soon as possible. We need to make sure any funding we secure does cover the project as we’re not in a position to fund a project of this scale.
“We’re anxiously await hearing back from potential funders on that point. I wouldn’t be able to hold my head up as a councillor if we don’t get this progressed. We need to find money from somewhere and I’m resolved we will do that without further delays to the project.
“We appear again to be the victims of a wider national picture in terms of delays to projects like this.”
Cllr Nick Howells proposed setting up a sub-committee to manage and oversee the project, while also having increased scrutiny over its progress, a move that councillors supported.
Cllr Phil Owen said: “I don’t know where we get our information from on this. I think we need a small subcommittee to take some direct action.
“Someone needs to speak to these people and tie them down on what’s going on. Half the time, we’re as much in the dark as the general public is.”
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