Oswestry splash park critics told to 'put up or shut up'

Councillor Duncan Kerr made the call at Wednesday's full town council meeting after members were asked to approved recommendations made by the Cae Glas Park management group to re-tender for the proposed Splash Pad.

The group’s meeting last week said the tender process needs to be re-run after initial discussions with two businesses were concluded prematurely.

A report from officers will be sent to council in May to be voted on.

The splash pad, which was voted for in July 2022, is expected to cost around £500,000 – from the Smithfield windfall money – to build with an annual maintenance budget of £20,000 with expressions of support and concern on social media for the project.

Cllr Les Maguire told the meeting: “My reservations are known about this and they’re getting further, given rising costs and you can see the concerns from social media.

READ MORE: Oswestry mayor makes personal plea over splash pad plans

“I can’t help but be concerned over it and the public hasn’t had a say over it.”

However, Cllr Kerr hit back, accusing the Conservatives of failing to put forward any ideas on how to spend the money, which he says is being devalued by dwindling interest rates, since 2014 and that his party pledged to use it at the last election.

Cae Glas Park

He said: “We’ve had this capital receipt money since 2014 and the money has been devalued.

“In that time, I can’t think of one proposal the Conservative group has put forward and all we’ve had is criticisms.

“If you’re going to carry on criticising then let’s hear from you on how to spend it

OTHER NEWS:

• Thief jailed for spate of offences in Oswestry to fund drug habit
• Rev Richard Coles set to visit Oswestry to talk about latest book
• Police appeal for help trace owner of 'dangerous' dog after boy bitten in Oswestry

“One idea would be more than welcome and you would get a fair hearing.

“This money was given to the people of this town and we need to get on with the investment of it for this town.”

He added: “We put this out in the election in 2021 that we intended to spend this money so the people were aware.

“We always said we would consult on what the final form of the splash pad would be.

“I say again, stop criticising and help us get on with spending the money.”

Cllr Maguire claimed that ‘hundreds were against it’ leading Cllr Jay Moore, mayor and proposer of the Splash Pad, to call for ‘evidence of the hundreds of people that you say are against it’.

Make sure you don't miss out on any of our news, sports and features. You'll see fewer adverts and enjoy great high street offers too. Just click here for your Oswestry Advertizer digital subscription.

Cllr Mark Jones, Conservative, asked what the carbon footprint of the pad would be, and Cllr Kerr acknowledged the question, asking for new tenders to include the relevant details.

Cllr John Price, who voted against the proposal to approve the recommendations with Cllr Jones and Cllr Maguire, added: “It’s a lot and lot of money, so we scrutinise the tenders carefully.

“We don’t make innuendo, we make firm decisions and once that’s resolved with someone who is green and wants to have kids to have fun, and it’s the right price, then we go forward.”

The recommendations for a re-tender were approved.