New £150,000 skate park heading to Market Drayton

The current Market Drayton skate park, which is close to the swimming pool, will be closed and replaced with a larger open plan site as part of the development.

At a meeting of Market Drayton Town Council, members agreed the lease agreement for the extended area for the new park.

The town council has pledged £80,000 towards the scheme and is now bidding for another £75,000 from other sources.

It wants to create a park that will serve young people in the town and also attract enthusiasts from across the county.

Councillor Roger Hughes said he hopes the skate park will be one of the best in Shropshire.

He added: "As a town council we have set aside £80,000 and we are looking for some extra funding to help – we are bidding for about £75,000.

"We probably have enough to do something but it would be limited without any funding."

Also discussed at Market Drayton town council was the town's iconic gingerbread man figure.

The town's 12 foot brick man has been under discussion for several months after town councillors decided it had become an eyesore and needed removing.

The figure, which lies near the island on the A53 bypass, was once surrounded by flowers and lovingly tended during the summer months.

But the town council decided it was too difficult to maintain and wanted to rip it up.

Councillor David Minnery, deputy mayor, said: "Matters have now overtaken us. We have had a letter from Shropshire Council Highways informing us that as part of their duties they will maintain it.

"We have also received a letter from the staff at Market Drayton's Gingerbread Man pub who are offering to maintain it."

Councillor Val Taylor said: "This land is the county council's. The staff from the Gingerbread pub should contact Shropshire Council and come to an arrangement.

"It is nothing to do with us - it is not our land.

"I want to keep it if we can but they must go down the right avenue.

The councillors agreed to notify Shropshire Council that the Gingerbread Man pub has made an offer and the town council has no objections.

Also on the agenda was an update on the town's public toilets which were recently targeted in an arson attack.

Arsonists attacked the disabled toilet attached to the town hall in Frogmore Road after forcing entry between 10pm and 11.20pm on August 18.

Police say a fire was then started in the corner of the disabled toilet and spread, causing substantial damage to the walls, light fixtures and fittings.

Councillor Roger Hughes said: "A company from Telford are coming next week to give us an estimate on upgrading and repairing the toilets."

Councillors voted to discuss the public toilets at a future meeting.