By Chris Hardy

THE BIG Lottery Fund has refuted an allegation by Montrose Skatepark Committee that it would withdraw funding unless floodlighting was part of the project.

Skatepark secretary Liz Addison, in a letter to local councillors prior to the skatepark plans being considered by Angus Council’s corporpate services and development standards committees, claimed that the Lottery had advised that they would only provide funds if the young people of the skatepark committee were fully involved and approved of any new location.

She said that the members had discussed their belief that the Ashie site was inferior to their preferred site at Marine Avenue and in particular they noted that it was remote from the town and close to the cover of dunes and gorse which were a cause of concern for the safety of the young people.

“The site is significantly darker at night and it is more exposed to wind and weather than Marine Avenue,” she said.

Mrs Addison claimed that in consultation with the council’s head of community services it had been agreed that for a scheme at the Ashie site on Traill Drive to have a comparable level of safety and usability to the Marine Avenue site, lighting was necessary to make up for the deficiencies of the location.

“The conclusion of consultation with the young people was that they were willing—grudgingly—to compromise on the location on the understanding that lighting was to be included in the plans,” said Mrs Addison.

She said there were two possible scenarios for the completion of this project—proceed with a scheme which did not include lighting in which case the Big Lottery Fund would not provide funding because the outcomes of the consultation exercise with the young people had been disregarded; or include the lighting in the plans as agreed with the young people and the lottery funding would be retained.

Yesterday, the Big Lottery said that lack of lighting would not jeopordise their funding support.

“We are happy with the proposals as they stand—lighting is not an issue,” said a spokeswoman.

The Lottery’s promise of £24,000 towards the £100,000-plus cost of the project was not dependent on lighting being included. If it was decided lighting was needed, it would be up to the committee or the council to raise the extra cost.

The skatepark committee’s allegation that the Ashie site was significantly darker than Marine Avenue, has also been dismissed.

A spokesperson for Angus Council said, “Planning permission is being sought to create a skatepark at Ashie car park and the application will go to the council’s development standards committee on November 11.

“The submission made to planning includes for floodlighting which could be installed as phase two, subject to funding and a proven demand for night time use.

“Traill Drive is lit with street lights and these will throw some light on the skatepark. The level of background lighting is similar, if not slightly better than that provided at Marine Avenue.

“However neither site is suitable for use during the hours of darkness.”

Floodlighting at the facility has been estimated by council officers to add another £16,000 to the overall bill, which has now jumped to over £100,000.