Outdoor stage in Knighton likely to go ahead as council agrees to discuss lease for the land

Plans to create an outdoor stage in Knighton are likely to go ahead after the town council agreed to discuss a long lease with Powys County Council.

The stage project for Pinner's Hole near the Offa's Dyke Path, has been awarded £83,000 of Pride of Place funding.

But at a heated meeting in August Councillor Tom Taylor walked out and said he was resigning after the council voted against a community asset transfer for the land.

Some councillors felt at the time that there were lots of practical details to be sorted out and the town council could not agree to the CAT, as it could become a mill stone around the council's neck, leading to a need for increased council taxes.

Some councillors accused others of 'handing back' the grant to Powys County Council.

A motion to discuss a 25 year lease on the land was also on the agenda at that meeting but because Councillor Taylor, who proposed it left, it could not be discussed.

An emergency Knighton Town Council meeting was held on Wednesday to discuss a proposal to request a long term lease of a 10m x 10m patch of land in Pinner’s Hole for the erection of a stage.

Councillor Taylor said since the last meeting over 50 people have signed a petition organised by Councillor Bob Andrews and over 50 people have posted adverse comments regarding this decision on social media. One person wrote a letter of complaint to the council.

He said the stage was one of the things people said they wanted in the household survey Councillor Corinna Kenyon-Wade and myself undertook and was included in the Town Plan that Richard Gabb compiled for the town.

He said the members who voted it down at the last meeting were primarily concerned about the annual running costs of the stage to the town council.

He said the group behind the project had assessed the annual costs to be £300 for a standing charge of the electricity supply,£60 for four grass cuts, £300 for contingencies, nothing for clearing up after events as that would be the responsibility of the event organisers and nothing for vandalism repairs as other projects in the town have suffered no vandalism because they look nice.

He said; “All other expenses of putting on a large event e.g. licensing, extra toilets, etc will be the responsibility of the event organisers. Total annual costs: £660.”

He said the income from the stage through hire charges could be £250 for a large event requiring electricity etc and £15 for a regular booking for a small group.

He added; “If we have bookings for three large events per year we will be able to easily recoup the £660 with some to spare.

“We will also have fees from regular bookings for small events e.g. yoga, Tai Chai, etc.

“Knighton Town Council’s involvement will, at the most, only be responsible for collecting the hire charges, grass cutting and paying the electricity bills. It is quite likely that a volunteer group will want to take over the running and promotion of the venue, in which case involvement by the town council will be minimal.”

Councillor Taylor said it was difficult to quantify the value to the town but the British Tourist Association calculate the average day visitor is worth £52 to the local economy and a visitors staying overnight are worth over £350, so the potential benefit to the town’s businesses should not be dismissed and the wellbeing and pleasure for townsfolk would be priceless!

He added: “This is a well thought out project which is popular with the townsfolk and is very likely to contribute to the council’s coffers. To block this exciting development will undoubtedly result in public outrage.

“Refusing to take up this £83,000 investment will not look good and any future grant applications are likely to be viewed unfavourably to put it mildly.

“On the other hand if we go ahead and get the stage built it will open up all sorts of possibilities for funding of performing arts and other events.”

A number of residents also attended the meeting and appeared to be mainly in support of the stage project.

Some members asked about liability for events, the cost of any vandalism and that they should see the lease before they agree to it. Councillor Mark Coxill said he had spoken to Powys County Council and Knighton Town Council had not lost the grant but would need a decision by September 25.

Councillor Coxill said: “My main concern is, is there going to be a long term commitment to this project or is it going to become a white elephant for this council in the future.”

Councillor Taylor proposed that with immediate effect the town council seek to obtain a long term lease of the 10m x 10m patch of land from Powys County Council in order to allow the construction of the stage. It was seconded by Councillor Holly Adams-Evans.

Members voted 10 to one in favour of lease discussions with one abstention.