January 6, 2010
Council penny pinching jeopardises project
Most communities will have a Council play park that has fallen into a state of disrepair and neglect through a lack of investment. But not every Council has a community willing to step into the breach and raise the necessary cash to bring their local play park up to scratch. One community in South Lanarkshire fears that all their efforts are about to be scuppered at the eleventh hour by Council penny pinching
A MASSIVE two year-long effort by the people of Law to give their village playpark a £60,000 facelift is in danger of total collapse this week due to alleged council pennypinching over just £3000.
The delapidated council playpark in Lawhill Road has been the subject of a successful campaign by local action group Law Community Trust to attract grant aid for a complete makeover, including badly-needed play equipment.
The Trust thought it had the £60,000 needed in place to get the project underway early next year.
However, in a last-minute bombshell, South Lanarkshire Council — whose property is to benefit from the facelift — has allegedly refused to stump up £3000 as a guarantee.
The funds would release a vital £30,000 grant from recycling company Virador’s community aid fund.
Trust chairman Jim Wright explained: “”It’s been a total dereliction of duty by the council.”
However, this week a South Lanarkshire Council spokeswoman said it still hoped to start work on the project in the New Year.
She said: “A meeting is taking place with Mr Wright this week to finalise the project and hopefully this will allow us to start work on site in the New Year.”