Skate park decision reveals Conservatives’ lack of ambition for Northampton (Mid Derbyshire Liberal Democrats)

Mid Derbyshire Liberal Democrats <rasalmon@freeuk.com>

Skate park decision reveals Conservatives’ lack of ambition for Northampton

January 17, 2012 4:14 PM
By Paul Varnsverry in Paul Varnsverry Delapre & Briar Hill Focus Team Northampton South
Originally published by East Midlands Liberal Democrats

Paul Varnsverry has criticised a decision by Northampton Borough Council Conservative cabinet member, Councillor Tim Hadland, to withdraw the planning application for Northampton's skate park, which was due to be determined by the planning committee on February 7th, 2012.

"I am bitterly disappointed to learn that Councillor Hadland has unilaterally taken the decision to withdraw the planning application for the skate park. He may have the powers to do so, but it is the wrong decision. I am investigating whether his decision falls within the criteria for call-in to the council's Overview & Scrutiny committee.

The future of Northampton's skate park hangs in the balance as a result of Conservative tampering and interference

"Councillor Hadland was a member of the cabinet when it took the decision on 14th September 2011 to choose Midsummer Meadow as the preferred site for the skate park. The rationale Councillor Hadland is using, in a bid to justify moving the location of the skate park - that combined with developments at the west of Midsummer Meadow in connection with the Nunn Mills regeneration, there will be a "squeezing" of green space - was surely as present in September as he claims it is now. Why was it not raised as an issue at that time? Why was Councillor Hadland prepared to endorse the Midsummer Meadow site in unanimity with his cabinet colleagues last September, yet proposes radical changes now?

"I understand that the alternative site that is being offered will limit ambition for the skate park. That ambition was always that the £250,000 capital sum allocated by the council would be used to attract match funding enabling a larger, world class facility to be constructed, putting Northampton firmly on the action sports global map. The Conservatives are putting this at risk.

"An obvious concern is that the Conservatives will present the skateboard and BMX community with a fait accompli: "take what we are offering or we will take away the money and use it for another project". The choice of funding the skate park project enjoyed cross party support and to move it to another project would be entirely counter to that consensus.

"In my opinion, the withdrawn planning application should be reinstated immediately, so the legal planning process can run its course and elected councillors can determine the application on February 7th. This will provide both supporters and objectors of the preferred site (from 14th September) to state their respective cases and for the proper legal decision to be taken in public."