THE town council has been criticised for neglecting work to improve the town’s main park, the King George V park.
According to former town councillor Adrienne Westbrook, information is lacking about a number of plans, including tree planting to combat flooding in the dog park area; the provision of new picnic benches; and the ongoing work to create a sensory garden on the right-hand side of the park.
The ex-councillor also criticised the council for the lack of information available about plans for the park’s pavilion; the length of time it is taking to repair or replace the children’s zip wire, which has been out of action since last year; and asked if there are plans to replace the picnic table that was damaged in last year’s arson attack.
Questions were also raised about any preparation for events in the park this year, including the Queen’s Jubilee in June.
Summer events?
“What are your events for the summer?” asked Adrienne Westbrook at a recent town council meeting. “Has the sports roadshow been agreed? Prior to the pandemic, the roadshow came in twice a week during the summer holidays.
“Families in Melksham are going to be struggling this summer with money, it’s going to be very tight. This town council had always helped to support those families who perhaps can’t afford to get away by giving them some really good opportunities in the park. Is that going to happen?
“What’s happening on the Queen’s Jubilee? Is a picnic going to be organised in King George V park?”
At the meeting, Adrienne said that since the town council made the decision in May last year to abolish the sub-committee responsible for overseeing the ongoing work to improve and maintain King George V park, and pass on the responsibility to its asset management and amenities committee, work in the park has almost ground to a halt.
“Everything seems to have stopped since May,” she said.
‘No progress’
The concerns echo those of town councillor Pat Aves, who said in September that since the new councillors were elected in May last year, there had been no progress on a number of King George V projects that were agreed by the previous town council.
Adrienne, who was also chair of the council’s King George V sub-committee, has called for the town council to consider bringing back the abolished sub-committee, highlighting that since the decision was made, the park – which she described as ‘the most important play area’ in the town – has ‘very rarely’ been on the agenda for meetings of the asset management and amenities committee.
“I’m confused to know what is actually happening in the park, and the how the public access information about what is happening in the park,” said Adrienne, “because it never goes on agenda.
“Since May [last year], what’s the process to get things improved? There does not seem to be a mechanism for councillors to discuss what they want to see in the park.”
She also reminded councillors that last May, Together for Melksham – the group that won the majority of seats on the town council at last year’s election – released a statement in response to criticism about the abolishment of the park’s sub-committee, stating that they were ‘determined to see continued improvements’ in King George V park and that they want to see every child ‘able to access quality play equipment wherever they live’.
Reading from last year’s Together for Melksham’s statement, Adrienne read, “Let us be clear, nothing has been cancelled, nothing is being closed and no facilities are being withdrawn.
“Well they have been withdrawn,” she continued, “as the zip wire has gone and it hasn’t been replaced.
“It reminds me of what Wiltshire Council’s policy is, which is when a piece of play equipment doesn’t work, just take it out of service – which I don’t believe is what the town council should be doing.”
King George V Masterplan
In response to the concerns raised by the ex-councillor, the town council said that it was still following the King George V ‘masterplan’, which was launched in 2019, to improve the area.
“Ongoing works include the reinstatement of Bath Road toilets, the installation of echo toilets at the pavilion and a lighting scheme,” explained a town council spokesperson. “The new maintenance building is going through planning at this very moment.
“A report on the future and set up of the Cricketers Café will also be considered at the next full council meeting. An audit of all play areas and their equipment is currently being done by officers and councillors. A plan of action to address issues, including the zip wire will be put in place.”
Sports roadshow
The spokesperson also offered reassurance that the sports roadshow will be visiting Melksham this year – with sessions beginning in the Easter holidays.
There was also reassurance about the replacement of the picnic table damaged in last year’s arson attack – the town council has said that it will be replaced before the splashpad is opened for the spring/summer season. They added that additional new picnic benches for the park will also be purchased ‘if the budget allows’.
About plans for the sensory garden, they said, “The sensory garden works have had to be delayed. This is due to the spoil from the footways being placed at the sensory garden. The spoil was mainly clay which is killing the trees and of the 10,000 bulbs planted, very few have surfaced. The spoil now has to be removed so the ground can recover.”
