Skatepark update as a matter of urgency

The newly appointed Chair of Welshpool Town Council’s Strategy, Policy and Development Committee has demanded that an update on Welshpool Skatepark be prepared as the first item discussed at their next meeting.

It comes after an agenda item at the latest meeting for the ongoing project provided no update due to the relevant officer, who wasn’t at the meeting, reporting via a colleague that they were chasing the company responsible for news.

The project to develop a new facility for the town appears to be dragging its feet once again after a flurry of activity over the past year.

Land has been identified on the car park at Maesydre, and designs were warmly received from specialists Canvas earlier in the year.

But it has gone quiet since as the project moves towards the crucial phase of cost and funding.

Cllr Billy Spencer led the councillors’ frustration at the lack of progress, before new committee Chair, Cllr Phil Pritchard, asked officers: “Can we try and be in a position to have the full information at the next meeting on the skatepark, to have this as the first item on the agenda?”

His request was unanimously backed, so an update will be expected at the Strategy, Policy and Development Committee meeting to be held on the first Wednesday in July.

The original skatepark closed down four years ago due to health and safety concerns, but Welshpool Town Council has made it a priority to deliver a replacement.