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Youth champion sued
But he says Mid Beds District Council is to blame
Champion of youth causes Ken Lynch is being sued for 17,000 by the company that helped build Biggleswade Skate Park.
But he says it is because Mid Beds District Council failed to follow through with a promise to meet the additional costs incurred after it forced the skate park to move from its original site - on land earmarked for Saxon Pool's expansion.
GBH, the company that made the ramps for the park, is suing Mr Lynch for around 17,000.
Mr Lynch, also a district councillor, told the Chronicle: "I have kept every bit of paperwork that has to do with the skatepark and in amongst that I found a letter from Mid Beds saying they would pay all the extra costs. We have had to have foam put in the ramps, Mid Beds insisted on that. Then the acoustic fence that the residents insisted on and Mid Beds said we must have."
He added that he had been unable to secure additional funding once the extra costs started to come in, and at one point had even considered dipping his hand into his own pocket and stumping up the thousands he believes Mid Beds owes the association.
Mr Lynch added: "I'm going to ask Mid Beds for all the money they owe us and any that is left over I'll put to another project for the young people."
Fellow trustee and Biggleswade mayor Peter Vickers added: "The district council is saying those costs have been met. The skate association is saying 'you haven't paid them all' because there were significant additional costs for acoustic fencing, lighting and so on. In the opinion of the skate association, had the district council paid what they agreed to pay, there would be no problem."
The board of trustees of Biggleswade and District Three Styles Association has pledged to stand by Mr Lynch - who says he would otherwise have been forced out of his home.
A spokesman from Mid Beds District Council, which took over the park last year, said the association should have had a surplus of almost 9,000 and at least sufficient funds to have met all costs.
She added: "Whilst it is extremely regrettable that the Association find themselves in this position Mid Beds has lived up to all its commitments and is continuing to ensure the skatepark is available for young people in Biggleswade to use.
"Mid Beds has given the Association all grants promised to it and we cannot explain where this funding gap has come from, nor why it cannot be met from the funds that the Association have already raised. This is for them to explain."
The Chronicle was unable to contact GBH despite several attempts to phone the company.
For the full story see the January 25 edition of the Biggleswade Chronicle.
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Monday 28 May 2012
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