Hope for skate park Lottery support, but delay continues

Welshpool Town Council’s frustrations over the delayed skatepark project were evident last night after it was confirmed the project is still at the mercy of the busy design company.

The council is cracking on with trying to secure funding for the ambitious project, but admitted last night that they are still in the dark with the company tasked for delivering, Canvas, still not providing updated plans or costs.

Even MyWelshpool’s request to the company for an update this month has fallen on deaf ears and it was clear that the local authority was frustrated.

In an update, the council said that initial meetings had been held with The National Lottery, but couldn’t be moved forward due to the lack of progress from Canvas.

“We are still waiting for plans so we can submit them to planning. And we are chasing the company,” the update stated.

Cllr Billy Spencer reminded councillors that they have “had a lot of backlash” over the delays but officers reiterated that everything was being done within their power to move it forward.

“It’s felt like giving birth to an elephant,” said Cllr Alison Davies.

The new skatepark is earmarked for the Maesydre car park, but due to the backlog caused by Covid and the lack of specialist companies available, the project has not moved forward as fast as the town’s teenagers would have hoped.