Monday, October 09, 2006
16/06/2006 Sample's guarded welcome for Key's remarks
16th June 2006
Sample’s guarded welcome for Key’s remarks
Local Liberal Democrat District Councillor Paul Sample has given a guarded welcome to comments made this week by Salisbury’s MP, Robert Key (www.robertkey.com), which show that Mr Key is unhappy with the destruction of the Secret Garden, which is proposed at Bourne Hill, Salisbury.
Cllr Sample said: “Robert Key has taken an interest in the Council House development project at Bourne Hill. He has held a meeting with concerned local residents and made representations on their behalf. I welcome his comments about the adverse impact of the development on the local environment.”
Mr Key wrote to a local resident on 9th June to say: “I regret that Salisbury District Council has been driven to a conclusion that development on the present site is the best option. I have taken considerable trouble to read their documentation and the business case. I am in no doubt that there is indeed a good business case for location on that site. However, I am very skeptical about the wisdom of destroying such a wonderful corner of central Salisbury – particularly the distinguished garden planned by one of our most famous landscape architects.”
The letter was passed b a local residents to Cllr Sample, who then wrote to Mr Key asking him to make his views on the Bourne Hill project know. Mr Key has now agreed to his views being reported.
Cllr Sample added: “The cost of the project has risen from 7 million pounds to over 14 million pounds in just three years. It is quite likely that the project will continue to rise significantly as the estimates come in, the specification changes, and project creep sets in. I believe the final cost could top 20 million pounds. Many ordinary Councillors from the rural areas will be wondering where the Cabinet is going to draw the line. We cannot write a blank cheque.
“Similarly, is it really wise to spend 20 million pounds on a new HQ building when Government is committed to total reorganization of local councils in the next few years. This is a massive project and it could turn out to be a huge white elephant. Budgets are being cut left, right and centre on services to local rural areas, so why blow all of this money on a Council Office and get crucified at the elections in May next year for the sake of a building which may well be surplus to requirements after local government reorganization.
“Robert Key has highlighted the real damage which will be done to this area of Salisbury City Centre and his comments about the Secret Garden are especially to be welcomed.”
Sample’s guarded welcome for Key’s remarks
Local Liberal Democrat District Councillor Paul Sample has given a guarded welcome to comments made this week by Salisbury’s MP, Robert Key (www.robertkey.com), which show that Mr Key is unhappy with the destruction of the Secret Garden, which is proposed at Bourne Hill, Salisbury.
Cllr Sample said: “Robert Key has taken an interest in the Council House development project at Bourne Hill. He has held a meeting with concerned local residents and made representations on their behalf. I welcome his comments about the adverse impact of the development on the local environment.”
Mr Key wrote to a local resident on 9th June to say: “I regret that Salisbury District Council has been driven to a conclusion that development on the present site is the best option. I have taken considerable trouble to read their documentation and the business case. I am in no doubt that there is indeed a good business case for location on that site. However, I am very skeptical about the wisdom of destroying such a wonderful corner of central Salisbury – particularly the distinguished garden planned by one of our most famous landscape architects.”
The letter was passed b a local residents to Cllr Sample, who then wrote to Mr Key asking him to make his views on the Bourne Hill project know. Mr Key has now agreed to his views being reported.
Cllr Sample added: “The cost of the project has risen from 7 million pounds to over 14 million pounds in just three years. It is quite likely that the project will continue to rise significantly as the estimates come in, the specification changes, and project creep sets in. I believe the final cost could top 20 million pounds. Many ordinary Councillors from the rural areas will be wondering where the Cabinet is going to draw the line. We cannot write a blank cheque.
“Similarly, is it really wise to spend 20 million pounds on a new HQ building when Government is committed to total reorganization of local councils in the next few years. This is a massive project and it could turn out to be a huge white elephant. Budgets are being cut left, right and centre on services to local rural areas, so why blow all of this money on a Council Office and get crucified at the elections in May next year for the sake of a building which may well be surplus to requirements after local government reorganization.
“Robert Key has highlighted the real damage which will be done to this area of Salisbury City Centre and his comments about the Secret Garden are especially to be welcomed.”
