PLANS to buy land to improve Halstead’s skate park for just £1 have stalled over the cost of maintaining it.

Halstead Town Council agreed to purchase the park, in Ramsey Road, Halstead, from Braintree Council in July last year.

But six months on, the two sides have been unable to agree a dowry –a payment made to the town council because the district council will save maintenance money in the long term.

Town councillor Andrew Munday, a youth council representative, said: “It’s frustrating because we are now into the new year and it’s at this time you can start applying for grants.

“One of the first questions on the application form is ‘Do you own the land?’ and the answer to that question is always no, so therefore you get removed from that application.”

The redesign of the skate park could cost up to £150,000 and no capital funding is available from Braintree Council.

The project was given a £25,000 grant from Essex County Council last year but that was withdrawn because of the ownership issue.

Halstead Gazette:

Mr Munday said: “We can’t kick on with the real matter of actually getting a skatepark until we get the land.

“The youth of this town need facilities. The skatepark is 20 years old. At the time it was a brilliant piece of kit to have but now it’s run its course.

“It’s not of a high enough skill level and it has to be maintained every year, but really you are maintaining a piece of equipment that – although it’s well used – doesn’t fulfil the purpose of a modern skate park.”

Halstead town clerk Mike Murkin said the annual upkeep of the park would cost about £4,000 and the dowry should cover about ten years.

Mr Murkin said Braintree Council made an offer last year but Halstead Town Council has asked it to adjust its figures. He said: “We got back to Braintree Council just before Christmas to question some of the terms and conditions and we are waiting for them to reply.”