NEWPORT City Council has pointed out it has five years to spend money given to it by developers.

The council statement comes after community group Lliswerry Ward Matters claimed in the Argus last week that the local authority is “sitting on” £335,000 given to them specifically for parks and leisure facilities, in the form of Section 106 funding, in Liswerry.

The group feels the current park and leisure provision in the area is unacceptable.

But a spokeswoman for Newport City Council, who said at the time that the funds have either already been spent in the ward or are “unspent but committed to be spent”, said in a follow-up statement: “A proposed substantial scheme would sometimes cost more than 106 funds so the council is perfectly within its right to apply for other grants/funding so a robust project can go ahead.

“For example in the case of Broadmead Park the ultimate deadline date for work is August 2021.”

She said the council has five years from receipt of 106 funding in which to spend it on designated projects.

The Lliswerry Ward Matters claims followed a Freedom of Information request which showed Newport City Council secured more than £3.5 million thanks to Section 106 agreements for developments within Lliswerry in the past seven years.

James Peterson, from the group, said that of that amount, £335,268 allocated for parks and leisure facilities in the area remains unspent.

“There are no new parks and we don’t see any progress in the area – all we see is houses going up,” Mr Peterson added.

“A lot of residents complain to us saying we don’t have enough parks or facilities in Lliswerry.”

Mr Peterson also said the data obtained showed Newport City Council has secured £269,606 for Lliswerry Recreation Ground, known locally as Black Ash Park, off Corporation Road.

“There is a planning permission from 2013 to build a mini-stadium with changing rooms there,” said Mr Peterson.

“They have also been given £27,412 for maintenance and play provision at Moorland Park and Broadmead Park.”

Mr Peterson said the main aim of Lliswerry Ward Matters is to hold the council to account.

To find out more about Lliswerry Ward Matters, visit their Facebook page – facebook.com/lliswerrywardmatters