A DECISION on whether Launceston Town Council will take ownership of a potential new play area will be taken when further information is available — but concerns have been raised that it could involve ‘an awful lot of money’.

A group of residents, the Lanstephan Area Play Park group, is keen to transform a site off St Mary’s Road into a play area.

The Post last year reported how the site had been likened to a post-war bomb site by residents living nearby.

Representatives of the group attended a town council meeting in the summer to report on progress and to ask if the town council would take on future maintenance of it once it had been refurbished.

It was said at the time that it was thought providing a play park there would cost up to £80,000, and that the group would look to fundraise through various events, apply for grants, with some funding having already been promised by the Rotary Club.

On Tuesday, town councillors discussed what the council’s position should be, with concerns raised about where funding would come from for future maintenance of the proposed play park.

The council had received correspondence from the area’s Cornwall Council community network manager. One of the questions asked of the town council was whether it would agree to take on ownership if it was brought up to an agreed standard.

Cllr Dave Gordon said he felt the town council’s position had already been made clear: “If there would be funding from Cormac, Cornwall Housing or Cornwall Council we would look at it again.

“I think the onus is being put on this council to fund it and I think that’s wrong.

“Kensey Valley Meadow has been fighting for play equipment for many years. I would love to see play equipment at Lanstephan and all areas of the town but we can’t be lumbered with a liability that’s going to cost this council thousands of pounds year on year.”

Cllr Rob Tremain added: “If they come up with something concrete we would be happy to say yes or no but it’s still very much in the air and until we get some solid proposals there could be an awful lot of money involved.”

Cllr John Harris became involved with the site in 2008 when it was still run by North Cornwall District Council.

He said: “I think the residents pretty much know the score. They know the town council is never going to be able to fund anything too much.

“Cornwall Housing as you know can’t build on that piece of land so they want to move that responsibility back to Cornwall Council.

“I believe the onus is on Cornwall Council to get the place ship-shape, but the residents are happy to raise money, raise grants and put some equipment on there.

“I think what the residents would like us to do when it is all finished is to take on maintenance and insurance. That’s the most they would like us to do.

“Lanstephan is a large area of homes which have nowhere where they can go without crossing a main road.

“I think we really need to push Cornwall Council to do something about this area because it shouldn’t be down to us.

“I think if they are passing the buck they don’t want to spend but it’s owned by Cornwall Council and they ought to be the ones stumping up some of the money.”

Cllr Margaret Young said of the town council potentially taking on ownership of the site: “I think it would create a precedent for all the other new estates in the town.

“There are two good but probably under-used parks. I think we should wait to see what Cornwall Council is going to offer and re-assess but not jump into this one too quickly at all.”

Cllr Brian Keighley said the Lanstephan Area Play Park group committee members had carried out a ‘tremendous amount of work’, but said of any new play equipment: “If it gets played on frequently it’s going to wear out and need to be replaced. I can’t see them fundraising for so much money in ten years’ time.”

Cllr John Conway queried how much money Cornwall Housing might be putting to other play parks in the county, and added: “If it’s not funding any places, fair enough. We must make sure Launceston gets its fair share.

“To my mind it’s important there are places throughout the town where children can play safely off the road.

“I don’t quite know what the answer is but we do need to make sure that’s an open space kept for the residents of that area.”

Cllr Roger Creagh-Osborne warned colleagues not to get ‘too hung up on it being a play park’: Perhaps we are being a bit nervous thinking it will be a play park forever.”

Cllr Margaret Young proposed and the motion was passed, that any decision on the council’s position be put on hold until Cornwall Council gives the town council more information on the part the local authority is prepared to play, at which point, the town council will reconsider.