Party Political Propaganda – the Facts: Part 2

In his election piece in South Molton News David Worden (Liberal Democrat) says this:

“I . . . worked to get NDC to put £400,000 in this year’s budget to resurface and extend the car park and remove redundant buildings”.

Yes, NDDC would appear to have allocated £400,000 to works in and around the central car park area, but in essence nothing has happened in four years – hardly a ringing endorsement.

The reality is this:

1. Car Park Extension in Sheep Pen Area Behind Amory Centre. The NDDC business case, written in November 2011, contained the following timescale:
• Release funds – April 2012
• Confirm scheme design – May 2012
• Planning application – May 2012
• Tender – July 2012
• Start on site – August 2012
• Completion – September 2012

Total cost for this project (including demolition of sheds) was put at £130,000.  The 2014/15 NDDC capital budget had £30,000 allocated for this work and the 2015/16 budget has £96,126 allocated – a total of £126,126.

We’re now in May 2015 and work hasn’t even started!

2. Demolition of Buildings behind Pannier Market (the old Phoenix Recycling). The business case was written in November 2011 and contained the following timescale:
• Release funds – April 2012
• Confirm scheme design – May 2012
• Tender – July 2012
• Start on site – August 2012
• Completion – September 2012

Total cost for this project was estimated at £75,000.

As of today the only sign of activity is that a planning application for prior approval of demolition has been submitted and approved.

3. South Molton Central Car Park
The business case was written in November 2014 and the total cost was estimated at £200,000.

The timescale quoted was:
• Funding approved – January 2015
• Drawings and tender – May 2015
• Construction – June 2015

Worryingly the report suggests that car parking charges will be increased once the project has been completed!