DELAYS to the long-promised improvements at Keynsham Memorial Park have come under fire.
Bath & North East Somerset Council did not receive any tenders by the end of March for an upgrade of the upper play area, which is part of the council’s four-year Memorial Park plan.
It is now proposing to re-tender the scheme to target a wider range of landscapers.
Should this be successful, the council is proposing that construction starts in early September this year.
The delays have prompted Keynsham Town Council to decide to send a “strong” response to Councillor Sarah Warren, B&NES cabinet member for parks, requesting an improvement in communications about the matter.
The town council, at its meeting on April 21, agreed to cite “the unfairness of all the parks being completed in Bath whilst Keynsham’s is continually delayed” and highlight the fact that the town council has been able to get numerous contractors to quote for its park refurbishments.
Meanwhile, Keynsham’s Labour councillors have expressed their frustration at the delays, warning that the community is being let down by a lack of progress.
They say that, with inflation and rising costs, the delay risks significantly reducing the value of the original investment.
Deb Cooper, speaking for the Labour group on the town council, said: “This is simply not good enough. Residents were promised timely investment in a much-loved community space. Instead, they are seeing delay after delay, with no clear explanation and diminishing value for money.”
She added: “It is deeply frustrating that while parks in Bath have been upgraded and opened, Keynsham Memorial Park remains stuck in limbo.”
The Labour councillors are calling for urgent action from B&NES Council to bring forward the timetable, provide transparency on the causes of delay, and ensure that the original vision for the park is not compromised.
They are urging the B&NES Council leadership to prioritise the project and deliver on commitments made to the people of Keynsham without further delay.
Pictured below, Labour councillors Chris Davis, Deb Cooper, Martin Burton and Dave Biddleston
