A CONTROVERSIAL skating facility in Headless Cross is set to open this week, amid accusations the voting system is "dubious".

Resident Margaret Morley, of Tennyson Road, said even supporters of the Morton Stanley skatepark raised concerns about the "undemocratic" way the decision was made at a recent Headless Cross Neighbourhood Group meeting.

"The way the discussion and vote were handled was dubious to say the least and a promise was given that there would be further and more detailed discussion before any decision was taken," she told the Advertiser.

"However, at the next meeting it was announced plans for the skatepark were going ahead and residents' only input was to decide which of four sites would be used."

Mrs Morley, once a regular visitor at neighbourhood group meetings, said she had stopped attending after becoming "increasingly disillusioned" with them.

Earlier this month, Feckenham Road resident Graham Hemming told the Advertiser the meetings failed to represent the public as a whole, after just 20 residents gave the thumbs-up for a kick-about area on Birchfield Road.

Redditch councillor Carole Gandy, who represents Headless Cross and Oakenshaw Road, agreed meetings were poorly attended and failed to reflect the public as a whole.

But she said: "The Neighbourhood Group meeting is the only vehicle we have at present to engage with the public. We publicise meetings in the press and put up posters - what else can we do, other than physically drag people to meetings?"

Mrs Gandy said councillors constantly tried to find ways of engaging residents and hoped to resurrect the Residents' Association in Headless Cross.

She added she was very pleased to be able to offer the skating facility and had received "very positive" feedback from the area's youngsters.