A PARISH council will contribute cash towards legal fees to secure a 25-year lease on village play area.
Gainford Activity Park, on land owned by nearby St Osmund’s Catholic Church, has been closed for a year following a safety inspection.
The parish council wants to reopen the park and replace equipment but have been in discussions with the diocese to get a longer-term lease to qualify them for grant funding. Chairman Cllr Andrew Wilkinson told councillors the diocese has asked if the parish council could contribute towards the legal and surveying fees. He said: “We have not got terms in writing but they have said they would give us what we are asking for. As they are a charity they have a legal obligation to get a survey of the area.
“My suggestion is that we do that given that we have not paid any rent.”
Clerk Martin Clark told members the costs could be about £5,000 but the diocese was only asking for a contribution. He added: “We would need to pay our own legal fees well.”
Cllr Simon Platten said: “Just to confirm the benefit of this is we would have a longer lease.”
Cllr Maire Kennan said: “In putting this investment in, is the parish council looking at keeping the playground in the same location?”
Cllr Wilkinson said: “It is an existing facility and does not need planning permission but it doesn’t mean we won’t look at other areas.
“If they commission this report it won’t be done before Christmas and it would be nudging towards spring.”
Cllr Platten proposed that the parish council contribute £1,000, not linked to past rent, to move negotiations forward. The idea was agreed.
