Vale district council plans to get Wantage Town Council to run town's Memorial Park

The Vale of White Horse District Council plans to give Wantage’s Liberal Democrat-controlled town council £500,000 to take over the running of the park.

The deal would mean the seven- hectare park in Manor Road would be run more locally — perhaps with the help of volunteers from the town.

But Conservative town councillor John Morgan said £500,000 was not enough, as it would cost the town council about £50,000 a year to maintain the park.

He said: “If it is such a viable thing, why is the chief executive so keen to offload it on to the town council and why is he offering so much money?

“It is going to be a very big weight on the shoulders of everyone in Wantage for years to come.”

Fellow Conservative town councillor Eddy Goldsmith said taking on the park could mean council tax rises in the town equivalent to about £14 a year for a Band D property.

He said: “We would be imposing a cost on the ratepayers of Wantage they could well do without. It would mean a considerable increase on people’s council tax, and that is something the people of Wantage should decide for themselves.”

Bill Melotti, Conservative district councillor for Wantage Charlton, said the town council could raise council tax to cover the cost of running the park, but the district council could not.

He said: “This is the town council Liberal Democrats letting their Vale colleagues off the hook by taking on something they can legally raise taxes for, but their colleagues cannot.

“They are taking desperate measures to try to save facilities.”

But Liberal Democrat town councillor Patrick O’Leary said a deal could ensure the future of the park, which has play equipment, a water feature, and two tennis courts.

He said: “With cuts by county and district councils, one does not know what could happen to the park in the future, and it does not seem unreasonable that as the town council, we should take control of it.

“It is a first-class facility and Wantage council wants to make sure it stays with Wantage and in our control.”

He added: “I do feel the precept would have to go up a little, but if it does not add up to a good deal for the people of Wantage, it would not go ahead.”

Mayor Jim Sibbald said the town clerk was looking into whether the proposal was worthwhile.

He said: “We need to come to an informed decision. Otherwise, we would be neglecting our duty to our constituents.”

Tony de Vere, leader of the Vale council, said further talks were needed before any final decision could be taken — “We are always open to working with town and parish councils which are interested in managing local facilities. Such arrangements can improve the service provided to the public while also helping to reduce our revenue costs at a time when budgets are tight.”