Rasen developer ‘committed to paying £45,000’ for skate park

In 2017 West Lindsey District Council gave Chestnut Homes planning permission to build 300 new homes on land off Caistor Road in Market Rasen - on the condition the company paid £45,000 towards a new skate park being built in the town.

The £85,000 skate park opened two years ago, in July 2018, but Market Rasen Town Council has still not received Chestnut Homes’ contribution.

Speaking at the town’s virtual full town council meeting, Mayor John Matthews said: “Chestnut Homes were asked to give a section 106 contribution for the Caistor Road development.

“That development has been started and we’ve got a liability of £45,000 on that.

“It was interesting to see the MD’s comment that he was delighted with the chancellor’s comment [On July 8 this year, Chestnut Homes managing director David Newton publicly welcomed the government’s plan to freeze stamp duty on homes worth up to £500,000, describing it as a “positive step forward” for the housing market.]

“Time has gone on since we’ve built that facility [the skate park] and we’re technically out of pocket.

“We were at the same meeting he was when he made a commitment and it hasn’t been forthcoming.”

And Deputy Mayor Stephen Bunney added: “It’s money that we’re owed.”

Chestnut Homes confirmed ‘ground investigation works’ had taken place at the Caistor Road site, but no building work has started.

A spokesman for Chestnut Homes said: “Construction work at Chantrey Park off Caistor Road has not yet started.

“Under the terms of the Section 106 agreement for the development, which was signed by West Lindsey District Council, we are required to provide a financial contribution towards the skate park.

“The agreement states that this contribution must be made before the occupation of the 100th home on the site.

“Normal ground investigation works have taken place at the site, but that is all.

“We remain committed to making this payment in line with the agreement.”

The Caistor Road housing development was approved by WLDC planners despite widespread objections from residents, councillors and Market Rasen MP Sir Edward Leigh.

The full details of the appearance, landscaping and layout of the first 102 homes were approved in July last year.

The planning officer who approved the application said in his report: “The scheme provides a good mix of residential designs to create an attractive environment.

“Housing would be arranged in an attractive fashion fronting the highways, with properties designed to turn corners in an attractive manner, with good permeability for pedestrians and cyclists.”

The homes will include a variety of builds between one and five bedrooms with 20 per cent of the homes classed as affordable housing.

The skate park project at Mill Road playing fields was spearheaded by Coun Stephen Bunney and Coun Margaret Lakin-Whitworth.

The skate park had been due to be completed in March 2018, but bad weather meant the site became too wet and work ground to a halt.