Two landmark schemes aimed at increasing fitness and sporting facilities for people in Shrewsbury could be axed because of financial problems associated with the town’s sports village complex.
Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council manager Geraint Morgan is urging councillors to shelve plans for a £36,000 Trim Trail at the £10 million development in Sundorne, as well as ditch the LULU project which aims to encourage physical activity among the inactive.
In a report to members ahead of next week’s cabinet meeting, the council boss says the Trim Trail - a proposed outdoor facility including an obstacle course - should be put on hold until issues concerning the final contract with contractors Morgan Ashurst over the Sports Village are resolved.
Mr Morgan also recommends that a request to extend the Lighten Up Loosen Up (LULU) project be rejected because of “unexpected” council operational costs with the new Indoor Bowling Centre at the complex.
But Councillor Charles Armstrong, portfolio holder for leisure, said he disagreed with Mr Morgan’s recommendations.
He said: “There is a suggestion that the Trim Trail would enhance the general access use for the facility and would be free to use. I do disagree with the officer’s recommendation on this one and I would hope it would still go ahead. Again I am in favour of LULU and I would like to see it retained.”
Councillor Armstrong said the LULU project had been running for nearly three years but said it had been originally funded through external organisations and its allocation was now coming to an end.
He claimed it was possible for the council to support its running costs for a year until the new unitary council could reassess the situation.
One Comment
Perhaps if councillors hadn’t been paid what some have told me was £316.000 in expenses the projects could have gone ahead?