Another serious blow for town's skate park hope
By The Bristol Post | Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 05:00
PLANS to site a skate park at Portishead Lake Grounds have been dealt another serious blow, putting the future of the project in jeopardy.
North Somerset Council's executive member for asset management, Tony Lake, has reaffirmed a decision to refuse landlords' consent for the Portishead Skate Project to site the facility on land between a children's play area and boathouse.
PSP has planning permission but the council owns the Lake Grounds and the skate park cannot be built without its permission.
It was the second time the group behind the skate park scheme had asked to use the Lake Grounds, after a search for an alternative site proved fruitless.
Mr Lake said his decision had been made after fresh consultations with local councillors and Portishead Town Council.
The current planning permission for the project, won on appeal, runs out in November.
PSP chairman Tony Mosely said: "We are disappointed at this latest decision and still believe the Lake Grounds is the best place for the facility. We are still interested in pursuing the Lake Grounds site while planning permission for the facility still exists.
"We feel that the council are playing silly games and have let down the young people of Portishead."
Mr Lake's decision came just days after Portishead Town Council withdrew its backing for the project. The town council voted 10 to two in favour of ending support for the initiative.
Comments
The last time Tony Lake's decision against Application for Consent was investigated under the scrutiny panel process, evidence indicated that the matter had not been considered adequately taking into account all the evidence and the majority of councillors voted in favour of the motion for the matter to be looked at again comprehensively. Of course at that time, Portishead Town Council supported the free for all, open air skatepark at the Lake Grounds. So what did Tony Lake do? Well he asked Town Council to also consider the matter again!
Written evidence is clear and circulating locally that there was a political party line on this issue. Consider these words: "Even if the appeal overturns NSC's decision, landlord's permission is required and that is most unlikely under the current balance of power". How about this one? "This is a Tory District Council initiative and therefore any moves to attempt to locate a skatepark on the Lakegrounds regardless of the outcome of the hearing will be unhelpful and counter productive to our efforts". Or this? "We need to be singing off the same hymn sheet and at the moment it seems we are not on the subject of a skatepark in Portishead. Your NSC colleagues have made it clear. No skatepark on the Lakegrounds".
So instead of stepping over that party line, as some councillors had done previously in expressing their support, they toed the line this time with only one Conservative town councillor showing to her credit that she could vote taking into account the facts of the matter and not what her colleagues may prefer her to do. With only two Liberal Democrats on the town council, and only one of those voting (who did so in support), the town council did a U turn on their decision. Someone has suggested parish politics is abolished. A quick straw poll down the pub would indicate many feel the same. Is it any wonder when we have witnessed how the political system works in North Somerset Council?
By PortisheadAH1 at 21:41 on 28/02/13
ReportGreat suggestion
By BeeWee at 20:17 on 27/02/13
ReportWhat about using the car park outside the town councils offices?
By CityClarky at 19:35 on 27/02/13
Report