Councillors cry foul over King George V park shake-up row

“Nothing has been cancelled, nothing is being closed and no facilities are being withdrawn”

TOWN  councillors have hit back at criticism following a shake-up about how the council will manage ongoing work to improve and maintain King George V playing fields.

The changes, which were agreed at last week’s annual council meeting, were for the ‘abolition’ of the King George V sub-committee, that has overseen the council’s masterplan for the park, and a delay to plans for a new volunteer group to support the park. 

A heated row broke out online which sparked concerns that the new town council was “turning its back” on the town’s main park. An online petition was launched against the changes, saying that Melksham’s park must be saved, which so far has been supported by over 320 people.

However, the backlash has been described by the Together for Melksham team, who hold eight of the 15 seats on the council, as based on “blatant” untruths. And they have reassured residents that they are “determined to see continued improvements” in all of the town’s parks and play areas, including King George V park (KGV).

In a statement released following the meeting, the group said, “Let us be clear, nothing has been cancelled, nothing is being closed and no facilities are being withdrawn. And to say otherwise is just a blatant untruth.” 

And there was further reassurance from the town council  at a meeting this week. 

Former town councillor and chair of the KGV sub-committee, Adrienne Westbrook, pressed the council for confirmation that the £501,000 budget ringfenced for the park’s improvements – of which she estimated £150,000 should still be left – was still available to finish a number of projects, including restoring the park’s mosaic, installing electrics, and transforming the area left vacant by the relocation of the play area. 

In response, newly-elected mayor, cllr Jon Hubbard, said that the money was still “ringfenced” for the King George V park. 

“The budget has not been changed at all,” said cllr Hubbard, “there has been no amendment to the council’s budget.”

At last week’s meeting, cllr Hubbard, who proposed to abolish the sub-committee, explained that the park improvement project has ‘largely been completed’ and that any further work needed will be overseen by the asset and amenities committee.

He said, “The work being undertaken in King George V park has now largely been completed and council should be congratulated for what has been achieved there.

“But therefore the overhead of maintaining a dedicated sub-committee now seems largely unnecessary – we therefore propose abolishing the KGV sub-committee and rolling its duties into those of the asset and amenities committee.”

The proposal was unanimously supported by all 15 councillors.

Over the past four years, changes to the park, overseen by the now abolished sub-committee, have included construction of the splashpad, a new play area, development of a new sensory garden, installation of outdoor gym equipment, a new pathway, a new café in the pavilion, and new benches. 

The majority of councillors also chose to pause plans for the new ‘Friends of King George V’- a new volunteer group that will work alongside the town council to help support work to enhance the park.

At the meeting, councillors were asked to ratify plans for the group and if approved, the group would have launched as an independent body, supported by the town council.

Instead, 14 town councillors supported a motion to defer the plans to allow time to explore a more ambitious vision for the group.

“I think the idea of a Friends of King George V Playing Fields is an outstanding idea,” said cllr Hubbard, “and I think that there is some really good work that could come from it.

“I feel that it could actually be more than what the current terms of reference set it out to be. I think that there’s an opportunity that it could be turned into a charitable body that would be able to raise more money to bring in and invest into the park. 

“And personally speaking, I think that is something we should explore.”

The proposal for a ‘Friends of King George V’ group will come back to an asset and amenities committee in the near future.

However, following the meeting, a number of ex-town councillors took to social media saying that work in the park is far from finished and claiming that the masterplan is only ‘half complete’. Ex-leader of the town council, Vanessa Fiorelli started the online petition saying, “The new Melksham Town councillors have just withdrawn their support for King George Park by abolishing the KGV sub committee and deferring the Friends of KGV Group. 

“They state that the work is complete, therefore there is no requirement for the sub committee. This is a blatant lie, the work on KGV is nowhere near complete! 

“Without the support of the town council, the improvements to the park will stop, the operation of the splashpad is in danger and there will be no dog park as promised. 

“The majority party, Together for Melksham, have a lot to answer for already. This is simply not good enough. 

“We demand that Melksham Town Council reinstate the KGV sub committee and wholeheartedly support the Friends of KGV.”