LLANDOVERY has been short-changed again. This feeling rippled through Rhys Prichard Hall in Llandovery on Monday evening (Oct 10), as 60 or so residents debated, in a public meeting called by the Town Council, the future of three playgrounds.
Carmarthenshire County Council owns three playgrounds at Castle Fields, Maesglas and Green Lodge, but says it cannot afford to maintain them. The council wants another organisation – the Town Council, or a voluntary group – to take them over on a 99-year lease.
A new group, the Llandovery Community Sports Association, is now responsible for the town’s playing field, tennis courts and croquet/bowls lawn, after acquiring them from the County Council, also on a 99-year lease.
Sports facilities do have the potential to be self-financing, because teams will pay to play, but playgrounds are different. Should small children, or their parents, pay a fee for access to swings and climbing frames when parents already pay council tax? ‘What do we get for our money?’ many were thinking. There is no comprehensive school any more and sports facilities have all been transferred, except for the swimming pool, which loses £2,400 a week. Now the playgrounds will close unless local people take responsibility for them.
‘SHORT-SIGHTED’ ACTION
Glyndŵr Phillips voiced unease with the County Council’s spending priorities, suggesting that a portion of the money pumped into high salaries could instead maintain the playgrounds. And, he said, it would be short-sighted to close the playgrounds, because families who visit them also bring custom to local businesses. Castle Fields playground, especially, is popular with visitors to the town who stop in the adjacent car park.
“The playgrounds have been run down already,” said Mr Phillips. “Children should not be paying the price of austerity – I find it disgusting that we are even having this conversation about keeping playgrounds open.”
To applause, he said that the County Council’s decision to offload playgrounds was extremely short-sighted. Playgrounds are basic amenities which every town should have, he said.
Local County Councillor Ivor Jackson, convinced that Carmarthenshire would not negotiate on the issue, said the Town Council could take the lead and help form an association to take over the playgrounds. Past Town Mayor Cllr Gill Wright urged rapid action because the County Council’s offer of lump sum inducements, of twice the annual maintenance cost for each playground, is open only until March 31, 2017. After this date, the offer reduces to one year’s maintenance costs in each case, plus an improvement grant of £5,000. In 2016-17, the total lump sum would be £10,028; in 2017-18, it would be £7,514.
And from March 31, 2018, there is no offer. The playgrounds would no longer be maintained.
VOLUNTARY GROUPS CAN APPLY FOR GRANTS BUT TOWN COUNCIL CANNOT
Cllr Jill Blud, Deputy Mayor, said it would be possible for the Town Council to increase the precept to provide enough money to look after the playgrounds, but the Town Council could not apply for grants to improve the amenities. Voluntary organisations could apply for grants which, potentially, is a big advantage.
Llandovery’s mayor, Cllr David Long, chaired the lively meeting, and said he had already spoken to the mayors of Ammanford and Llandeilo about the potential for sharing machinery and equipment.
Economising where possible would be important because of unavoidable costs like public liability insurance and compliance with health and safety legislation.
A qualified volunteer offered to do risk assessments, and another could do some grass cutting. There was plenty of goodwill in the audience, as well as annoyance at the corner in which the County Council had penned them. One resident told the meeting that Green Lodge playground urgently needed money spent on it, to clean it up and fence it for improved safety.
Money-raising suggestions included space for corporate advertising and business sponsorship of items of play equipment, but the feeling was that playgrounds are not, and should not, be significant revenue generators.
The meeting ended with agreement that a community association should be formed, possibly with sub-groups for each playground, and with the Town Council leading the process.
W Glyndŵr Phillips was not brimming with hope. “In two or three years we will be back in the same place, short of money,” he said.
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