WORK to create a new play park in Launceston has ‘stalled’, and the town council will be writing to Cornwall Council to try and get the project moving again.

Launceston Town Council has previously agreed to take on the ownership and maintenance of the Lanstephan Pocket Park, and area of land off St Mary’s Road, once the area is in a suitable state.

Lanstephan Pocket Park committee member Pat Ward, who attended the meeting of Launceston Town Council on Tuesday, October 18, said the committee has secured grant funding, but that some money could not be spent until the site is taken on by the town council.

Ms Ward told town councillors the committee could ‘only assume’ the delay was down to the ‘bureaucracy of Cornwall Council’ in terms of it handing over the land, adding: “Work on the play park has stalled. The delay is frustrating as it can affect funding.

“If we don’t spend a grant within a specific time we have to return it. It’s very important to us the land is transferred as quickly as possible, as we have money in the bank we are unable to spend.

“We still have to meet deadlines or we lose the money.”

She said the committee has written to ‘all the people we can think of’, adding: “We feel the pressure needs to go on Cornwall Council, but I do accept this is probably a thankless task.”

Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston Central, Gemma Massey said the issue had been raised to her after photos were uploaded to social media, showing that new swings had been installed at the town’s Coronation Park, and people from Lanstephan asked her how they could move forward with their plans for a play park.

Cllr Massey told the council meeting she had received an email from the town’s Cornwall Council community link officer, Chris Sims, who said ‘things are moving rapidly again’. She said her colleague, Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston North and North Petherwin, Adam Paynter, was in contact with Cornwall Council’s corporate director of economy, enterprise and environment about the play park.

She added: “The current issues at the moment are with regards to the tree cutting and wall repairs,” and said once these, along with fence repairs, were completed, the changeover of the land could happen.

Town councillor Paul O’Brien said an ‘urgent’ letter should be sent from the town council to John Pollard, the leader of Cornwall Council, ‘to say the impact is his council is leading to a position whereby funds that have been promised are hanging in jeopardy’.

He said to Ms Ward: “I would hate for all your hard work to start to be watered down because of Cornwall Council’s failure to meet deadlines.”

Cllr John Conway said: “We need to support the Lanstephan people. It’s for the benefit of our town. I think Cornwall Council do need to be reminded.”

Cllr John Harris said: “We must pursue it doggedly. We need, as a council, to be completely behind this project.”

Mayor Cllr Brian Hogan, who said the residents of the area had ‘done brilliantly’ to secure grant funding for the park, added: “I think this council has already agreed to support this project. This council already said they will take on the maintenance of that area as soon as it’s fit to be taken on.”