Council's £22,000 grant to town's parks (From Western Telegraph)

Council's £22,000 grant to town's parks

3:50pm Sunday 21st October 2012 in News

Pembroke Dock town council agreed to award £22,000 to Friends of the Memorial Park in next year’s budget, with £15,000 of the grant ring-fenced to help pay for a second children’s play area in the town.

The grant was one of eight approved at a town council meeting on October 4th.

At the previous month’s meeting there had been a discussion about the need for more play equipment for younger children.

Members were also told that the county council wanted town councils to take responsibility for this provision.

The town clerk’s report suggested the play area should be for children up to the age of five or six.

The report stated: “The feeling among the council is that there is not anywhere near enough play provision for the smaller children.

“This would be one way of resolving this.”

The money will also be eligible for match-funding from a community regeneration grant.

Councillor Anthony Wilcox said: “I think this is an excellent use of town council money.”

Councillor Andrew McNaughton said: “It’s what people want us to spend the money on.”

The remaining £7,000 was approved for the general development and maintenance of existing facilities, which include a BMX track.

The group, which recently became a registered charity, is also fundraising for a skate park and has had a £19,000 grant agreed by Pembrokeshire County Council’s regeneration unit.

Members agreed the draft budget for next year with a precept of £150,720 – an increase of £510 on last year.

The rise was justified by members because it would provide more support for local organisations and more services to the community.