Criticism for a project in Peasedown St John is growing as a fellow Parish Councillor says its costs are spiralling out of control. Community activist Gavin Heathcote, Independent back-bench Parish Councillor and Chair of the Peasedown Community Trust, raised his frustrations last week at a scheme that he says is 900% over budget.

The Parish Council, which recently imposed a 41% tax increase on residents, originally drew up plans to build a concrete path on the Recreation Ground in 2015. The cost was just £10,000. Six years later, the Council is looking at a bill of at least £90,000.

Gavin Heathcote said: “The costs for this project on the Recreation Ground are astronomical. From a £10,000 footpath to one that is now £90,000 is unbelievable. To put it into perspective, this year the Council will claim over £250,000 in taxes from Peasedown residents. £90,000, or 36% of the overall Parish Council budget for this financial year, will be spent on a footpath.”

Cllr Heathcote has also raised concerns about a lack of public consultation and claims several of the backbench Councillors have been excluded from taking part in the decisions surrounding the scheme. “There has been little transparency over this project. Several of us have been excluded from meetings, or told we are ‘not entitled’ to vote or share our views. The public have a right to know why and how this project’s costs have spiralled out of control. Plus, it’s taxpayers’ money being spent on land the Council doesn’t even own!”, added Gavin.

Mr Heathcote has also accused the Parish Council of arranging a meeting ‘last minute’ with the project’s contractors and the location ‘moved secretly’ for fear of the public attending.

When approached for comment by The Journal, the Parish Council said: “Peasedown St John Parish Council has been considering the following improvements to the Miners’ Welfare Recreation Ground for a number of years which consists of:

• Extension to the existing pathway (the path will be extended to join Whitebrook Lane with a new section so that all residents can walk, run, push a buggy or ride on a mobility scooter around the field on a good surface. It will ensure that all the Equality Act Compliant access gates lead onto a hard surface).

• Formalise the pedestrian entrance from Bath Road and link to the new pathways.

• Install an area of reinforced ground for parking

“All these improvements have either been at the request of residents or as a result of activity by residents/users of the Recreation Ground.

“The Miners’ Welfare Recreation Ground, is held under Charitable Trust. The Parish Council is the Trustee. The Trustee met in June 2021 and resolved to formally support the Parish Council’s plans for these improvement works.

“During the 2019/20 financial year, £14,000 was allocated to the footpath extension project, as an earmarked reserve in order to try and build up funds so it could be actioned when more funds were available. In 2021/22 the Parish Council allocated an additional £76,000 to provide sufficient funding for all these improvements to proceed.

“Parish residents have been made aware of these improvement works, and associated costs, on several occasions, including in the precept leaflet, which was published March 2021 and in various Parish Council newsletters which are delivered to every dwelling in the Parish.

“In February 2021 an Advisory Panel was appointed by the Council to investigate into the options for the project and to present them to Full Council in order for a decision to be made. All Parish Councillors were provided with the opportunity to volunteer to serve on this Advisory Panel.

“The improvement works were put out to tender earlier this year via the Government procurement website, following the correct procedures for a project of this value. From the quotations that were received, a contractor was appointed to undertake these works at the August Full Council meeting. All Councillors that were present at the meeting had the opportunity to vote on this.

“Following this decision, which was made at a public meeting, a meeting was arranged with the contractor to discuss the finer details, such as start date, health and safety, schedule of works etc. This meeting was never arranged as a public meeting and was a business meeting between the contractor and Parish Council staff and those Councillors who had been involved with the Advisory Panel. There were no decisions made at this meeting, because the project had already been agreed at the August Full Council meeting.

“Members of the public are invited to attend any Committee or Full Council meetings, which are held at least monthly. The Parish Council also holds Councillor Surgeries on a monthly basis, at which residents can book an appointment to raise questions, concerns or make suggestions for things they would like the Parish Council to action.”