Newport council has spent just over one per cent of the budget allocated to facilities at Tredegar Park over a five-year period.
The city council has allocated £225,029 to Tredegar Park for an inclusive cycle scheme, however only £2,844 has been paid out so far, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from Newport Conservatives.
The disability-friendly Wheels for All cycle scheme will be run by Cycling Project, a UK charity and will be launched in 2021.
An FOI shows that the funding for the scheme comes from section 106 agreements from two developments – the former Tredegar Park Golf Club and the former South Wales Argus site at Bideford Road.
The former Tredegar Park Golf Club development contributed £70,877 in January 2015, while the former South Wales Argus site at Bideford Road contributed £154,152 in February 2014.
A Section 106 agreement is money handed to the council by developers for use on schemes benefiting the community such as parks, schools and other facilities.
A council spokesman said: “Over the next four years the council plans to spend £225k on funding the inclusive cycle scheme in Tredegar Park, which will improve access to cycling for all of our residents and increase the city’s reputation as a hub for cycling.
“The funding includes £120k which has been allocated towards start-up costs, including the installation of a cabin, accessibility improvements, and the purchase of specially adapted cycles.
“The remaining £105k has been allocated towards ongoing maintenance and running costs, allowing for totally free usage of this inclusive facility for the initial four-year period.”
A separate FOI from Newport Conservatives found there was £37,000 in unallocated funding from the Tredegar Park ward for the park.
The council said such funds would be allocated over time.
Local campaigner Michael Enea said some of the money should be used for a splash park.
He said: “The council should be looking at the remainder and trying to get a splash park in Tredegar Park.
“They should be at least applying for funding from Welsh Government like other councils have.”
The leader of Newport council’s Conservative party Cllr Matthew Evans said: “This has been going on for a considerable amount of time.
“I have no objection to the bike scheme, but the costs seem outrageous.
“We had a perfectly good splash park, but the council didn’t maintain or invest in it.”
