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The new residents of Trowbridge could well be disappointed.
Back in 2014 a draft set of Paxcroft Mead Resident Association minutes stated
'I (Roger Andrews, a Town Councillor) have had a long talk with Lance Allan (the clerk to Trowbridge Town Council) this morning about the Paxcroft skatepark and outside gym, and I have some very good news.
The Community Governance Review will make changes to the boundary between Trowbridge and Hilperton. Area 3C, South of Hilperton Drive, will bring 210 houses into Trowbridge. This will generate £25,000 per annum in council tax for Trowbridge Town Council. The proposal is that the £25,000 should be spent on community projects and, subject to council approval, that the extra income could be put into the skatepark and gym.
The arrangement will be over a period of at least four years giving PMRA £100,000 pounds (sic) for the project.
Obviously, those people brought into Trowbridge will not be too happy about the huge increase in their council tax as they only pay £12 per year to Hilperton Parish Council, so we will have to "sell" the benefits that the changes will bring, and probably have to ask all Paxcroft residents how they would like the money spent.'
I attended the Annual Town Meeting earlier this week and asked a few questions.
Two of them, with the Town Council answers, are shown below and, as can be seen, the investment in the Paxcroft Mead area will be a lot less than the 2014 statement indicated. It also seems to be bad news for those opposed to the skate park...
Q1. Has TTC approved this idea (allocating £100k to the transferred area)? If it has not, when will TTC debate the idea?
A1. Trowbridge Town Council has considered the principle that the additional contributions being made by the residents transferred from other parishes should be used on enhancing facilities in those areas and in the vicinity of those areas, such as open spaces and the play areas which the town council has taken over this month. The figures are included in the five year financial plan. This will be subject to consultation with those residents which will commence after the elections, prior to any decisions being made.
Translated from 'political speak', this seems to me to be bascially saying 'TTC will not be allocating this money to Paxcroft Mead'.
Q2. Does TTC intend to resurrect the skate park planning application which was recently withdrawn by Hilperton Parish Council?
A2. Subject to the consultation and to the land being transferred to the Town Council from Wiltshire Council the skate-park at Paxcroft Mead is one of the options which will be considered for future investment.
Translated into English this would indicate that the Lib Dem controlled Town Council is quite happy to ignore all the objections to the scheme if it suits their purpose to do so.