The decision to defer a funding request to build a splash park in St Neots has been described as "frustrating" as the wait drags on.

St Neots Town Council (SNTC) considered and debated a £650,000 funding request from St Neots Aquatic and Leisure CIO (SNAL) to build a splash park on the old swimming pool site on Huntingdon Road for more than two hours at a meeting last night (July 25).

It was recommended by the Finance and Governance Committee that certain conditions needed to be met if funding is to be awarded, and so a decision was deferred.

A spokesperson for SNTC said: "The council's decision will understandably cause frustration, however providing the time to bring forward the conditions which act as the basis for satisfying the council that the project is sustainable will allow for outstanding questions to be addressed and assurance given to the council that the conditions of funding can be met.

"The Council, of course, has a duty to ensure it has exercised due diligence when spending any public funds."

The conditions focus on putting in place legal agreements which set out measures and conditions which would be in place to ensure the splash park is a deliverable and financially sustainable project which represents a good use of public funds.

A decision won't be made until work is undertaken on drafting the agreements set out as conditions of any funding awarded.

At the meeting, the chairman of the SNAL, Mr Mick Marks was present to take questions before members debated the matter.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Marks said: "I am still in shock at the performance last night.  Not a great advert for St Neots, highly unprofessional."

READ MORE: 'All I need is the money' - St Neots Splash Park needs council funds for go ahead

St Neots councillor for Cambridgeshire County Council, Stephen Ferguson, said: "I'm disappointed that they didn't come to a decision. 

"The whole town expected them to come to a decision last night, and whilst doing proper due diligence is really important, this has gone on for a long while, and I implore them to make a decision at the next meeting, one way or another." 

"It's really frustrating. It just degenerated into people chatting across the table the whole time, and I think it was very frustrating for everybody who was watching [the live feed]."

Despite no decision being made, councillors acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the SNAL volunteers who have brought forward the proposals and all the information and documentation they have provided.

More to follow...