THE threat of a £30,000 lawsuit has returned to haunt protesters who delayed a Gwent skatepark's construction - despite reassurances last year that they would not be held responsible.

Work on the skatepark in Bulwark Park, Chepstow, known locally as Piggy's Hill, was due to begin on August 18 after the £145,000 project had been approved by Monmouthshire council.

But weeks of dogged resistance by residents kept contractors from beginning work on site until early October.

The protesters accused the council of acting without planning permission, hit out over lorries passing close to their homes and the tearing up of a public footpath while work progressed.

Seven protesters were eventually taken to the High Court in Cardiff where injunctions to stop them protesting were imposed on them.

Council officers previously threatened to recover more than £30,000 in delay costs as contractors waited around to start the work, through legal action taken on protesters.

But in October a statement released by the council said: "Additional costs, well in excess of £30,000, may well have to be met by the council, and ultimately, the taxpayers of Monmouthshire."

The Argus then received assurances from Leisure and Recreation Manager Mike Moran's department in October that officers did not plan to ask protesters to foot the bill.

But 65-year-old protester William Pegg received a letter last week from Mr Moran again warning him that protesters may face paying for costs.

In October Mr Pegg - who has a history of heart trouble - suffered an angina attack during the protests when he clashed with police and spent five days recovering in Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital.

The letter explains a decision is yet to be made whether claims will be pursued by the council in order to recover the costs.

Mr Pegg, of St George Road in Bulwark, who along with other protesters is still writing letters to the council to complain about aspects of the park's construction and safety, said: "This issue of the costs is being placed above our heads again and is worrying some residents because if it came to it they would not be able to pay.

"We have never done anything other than peacefully protest.

"These costs would not have been incurred if the council had done everything correctly from day one."