A STALLED project – which was awarded £600,000 to build a sports and arts centre in the heart of a Cornish village – has split the community.

The scheme, initiated by Chacewater Parish Council, to build a recreation centre in the village – which sits between Truro and Redruth – has led to councillors standing down, Cornwall Council refusing to grant any further funding and the division member calling it “an unfortunate saga” which “should not have been granted funding of over £600k in the first place”.

Feelings are running so high in the former mining village that a campaign group called Chacewater Recreation Centre Action Group (CRAG) has been set up in a bid to get the project up and running again.

Members of CRAG have been very critical of the parish council’s management of the project and the fact that the council has increased its council tax precept by 47% this year, which they believe is partly to cover the costs of the delayed centre.

A spokesperson for the group said this month: “Under the current parish council leadership and management, approximately £600k of taxpayers’ money has been spent on a building that may, if we’re lucky, be worth circa £200k. There is a significant chance that it would be more cost effective to demolish the building and start again.

“The Chacewater recreation building remains a wreck not a rec.”

The parish council has told us it recognises the strength of local feeling, but wants to “address a number of inaccuracies currently circulating”, including rumours that the half-constructed building will be demolished.

The council has admitted that the project has “faced challenges, including contractor issues and changes in external funding” which disrupted the original delivery plan, but has been critical of “some actions and approaches” by those outside the parish council, including members of CRAG.

Councillors also accept that “communication has not always been as clear or consistent as it should have been and we understand that this has added to local concern”.

Chacewater PC was granted £589,860 in government shared prosperity funding (SPF) by Cornwall Council, with construction beginning in June 2024 and a planned completion date of December 2024. It still hasn’t been completed as construction costs spiral.

The plan was for the new facility to replace the village’s old football pavilion with a full recreation centre featuring a sports hall, climbing wall, an arts and crafts space, meeting rooms and other facilities for the community, including for Chacewater Primary School.

Cornwall Council has confirmed it won’t give any further funding to the project, which sits empty and unfinished by the football field in the centre of the village.

A statement from Cornwall Council, which was signed off by Cllr Tim Dwelly, the cabinet member for economy, regeneration and investment, said: “The Chacewater Recreation Centre funding application was successful because it met the SPF Good Growth programme criteria, aligned with local priorities and demonstrated deliverability within the required timescales, with planning permission in place and building regulations prepared for submission.

“While we have maintained oversight of compliance, the delivery of the project remains the responsibility of the applicant organisation, as specified in the grant funding agreement.

“Cornwall Council has confirmed that no further funding will be paid as we have not been sufficiently assured that the project can be completed within the financial envelope and therefore as accountable body cannot justify committing public funds.”

The council says it remains supportive of Chacewater Parish Council and is keen to see a “robust delivery plan to secure the future of the project, addressing both the funding package and appropriate governance and management arrangements”.

The divisional member for Chacewater at Cornwall Council, Cllr Dulcie Tudor, has referred to the recreation centre situation as an “unfortunate saga”.

Speaking at a public meeting in the village earlier this year, she said: “My view, in hindsight, is that a project of this size and scale for a parish council with a precept of around £40k should not have been granted funding of over £600k in the first place.

“I feel officers at the council did not carry out due diligence and scrutiny in the first instance. But that, as I say, is in hindsight and hindsight is a wonderful thing.”

She told the meeting she believed the decision by former Chacewater parish chairman Cllr Paul Bearhams to stand down “was the right one in the circumstances, although I know in many ways he is a loss to the parish council.

“Two or three other parish councillors have left the council and that is not a good thing”. CRAG says the parish council is actually down from 12 to just six councillors, with six councillors resigning since November 2025.

Cllr Tudor added: “I do not feel we should let this sad chapter define the parish council but move on positively together. I think I speak on behalf of the new chair (Cllr Stuart Foster) when I say it would be wonderful if people could bring their ideas for solutions.”

She urged residents to join the recreation centre management committee in a bid to help complete the project.

Chacewater Recreation Centre Action Group (CRAG) said it was formed to keep the community fully informed of any developments in the construction of the recreation centre.

It is managed, maintained and supported by local people “who are accredited with wide and extensive knowledge and expertise in construction and conveyancing as well as in the financial, business and project management industries”.

A comment by CRAG’s administration earlier this month stated: “I wish we could report something positive, but unfortunately the parish council seem determined not to engage collaboratively with this group and the community as a whole, as they have actively procrastinated, disrupted and delayed at every turn any attempts by us to move forward with the project.

“This has resulted in yet more delays whilst what is left of the building continues to deteriorate and opportunities to progress fall by the way side.”

It added: “Chacewater Parish Council have increased the local council tax precept by almost 50% compared to the average in the county of 9%. The Chacewater recreation building remains a wreck not a rec, with little to no chance of this situation changing if the personnel managing and directing the project do not change and/or be supplemented with people who do know what they are doing.”

CRAG added that the parish council is down from 12 to only six councillors, with six councillors resigning since November 2025.

Joanne Greaves, vice-chair of Chacewater Parish Council, has sent a statement to us on behalf of the council.

“Chacewater Parish Council recognises the strength of local feeling about this project and welcomes the opportunity to clarify the current position and address a number of inaccuracies currently circulating,” states their email.

“The parish council wishes to make absolutely clear that there are no plans to demolish the recreation building. The parish council remains committed to restoring and delivering a viable recreational facility for the community, and work is ongoing to progress this in a responsible and sustainable way, subject to funding.

“While the project has faced challenges, including contractor issues and changes in external funding, the parish council continues to work with professional advisers to determine the most appropriate and cost-effective way forward.”

In relation to funding, the parish council says discussions with relevant bodies are ongoing. “The original grant funding was awarded through established processes and any comments regarding its allocation are matters for Cornwall Council.”

Regarding the parish council tax precept, the parish council has emphasised that this information has been “fully transparent”. “The increase was discussed at a parish council meeting open to the public and has been published on the council’s website.

“By way of context, the increase represents a move towards parity with other similar-sized parishes, as historically the precept had been kept comparatively low, supported in part by a now-diminishing volunteer base.

“The adjustment also reflects rising operational demands, including a significant increase in administrative workload and correspondence, requiring additional officer time to ensure appropriate governance and responsiveness.”

The statement broached the comments made by CRAG and said an offer to members of the group to contribute their input to help progress the centre project “has not been taken up”.

“The parish council is aware of statements made by the CRAG group and others. It is important to clarify that the parish council has consistently sought to engage constructively and has held numerous meetings where members of the group and the wider public have been present.

“However, the parish council considers that some actions and approaches taken outside of agreed processes have, at times, made it more difficult to progress the project efficiently. The parish council must operate within legal, governance and site management requirements, and cannot support or act upon proposals that fall outside these frameworks.

“The parish council has also established dedicated recreation centre working and funding groups to support progress and has invited members of the CRAG group to participate and contribute their input. To date, this offer has not been taken up.

“The parish council continues to welcome constructive engagement and would encourage all parties to work collaboratively within an appropriate and agreed framework to help move the project forward.”

Its statement acknowledges that progress has at times been slower than all parties would wish. “However, it remains focused on ensuring that decisions are properly informed, lawful and in the long-term interests of the community.

“In terms of project costs, the parish council continues to rely on professional assessments and expert advice and will not speculate on unverified figures.

“As with many local parish councils, there have been recent changes in membership. While this presents challenges, the council continues to operate and remains committed to fulfilling its responsibilities.

“Ultimately, the parish council remains focused on its core responsibility acting in the best interests of the whole community. It will continue to pursue funding opportunities and progress the project in a way that is responsible, lawful and sustainable.”