Eltham Centre deserves greater scrutiny

5.01.49pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 30th Oct 2005

Cllr Brian Woodcraft (Middle Park & Sutcliffe), leader of the Lib Dem group, has expressed his anger at the secretive way the Labour council awarded the contract to build the new Eltham Centre to Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd.

"The decision was taken by two Labour councillors meeting at short notice and without time for proper scrutiny," said Cllr Woodcraft. "Many people didn't know about the meeting until after it had taken place - so much for Labour's commitment to openness and democracy!"

"We have called for the decision to be reconsidered to ensure it is given due consideration and that Eltham gets value for money."

The project will cost around £20m in total, with Willmott Dixon being paid nearly £90,000.

"It's typical of Labour's arrogance that they will sign away the public's money without fully considering all the options," Cllr Woodcraft continued.

Responding to criticism from the Labour council leader, Cllr Woodcraft commented "The Liberal Democrats have been calling for improvements to leisure facilities in Eltham for a long time. Our opposition was to the way the Sun Yard site was chosen, the increased traffic it will cause around the high street and the lack of public consultation."

"To assume that the Lib Dems oppose the leisure centre simply because we have raised legitimate questions about the council's plans just shows how out of touch Labour have become."