'˜Waste of money' £550k Crawley revamp cost is normal, says council

Crawley Borough Council (CBC) says the cost of a £550,000 shopping parade revamp which townsfolk have branded a waste of public money was comparable with previous neighbourhood parade improvements.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th May 2016, 15:50 BST
Updated 25th May 2016, 17:45 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Broadfield Barton works finish. Pic Steve Robards SR1613753 SUS-160516-143232001Broadfield Barton works finish. Pic Steve Robards SR1613753 SUS-160516-143232001
Broadfield Barton works finish. Pic Steve Robards SR1613753 SUS-160516-143232001

Residents have taken to social media to complain that the freshly renovated Broadfield Barton ‘looks the same’ and demanded ‘proof of spend’, one adding: “Where the hell has that money been spent?”

But a council spokesman today (Wednesday May 25) said the cost of the scheme in Broadfield - the last of the town’s neighbourhoods to get a parade revamp - was ‘in line’ with previous parade works.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The other projects did not include a new canopy and cost about £300,000 in Furnace Green in 2011, £400,000 in Tilgate Parade in 2012, and £321,000 in Gales Place, Three Bridges.

The council yesterday released a ‘cost breakdown’ which stated the Broadfield scheme was predicted to cost £546,690 after readers raised concerns before the renovation finished last week.

The Broadfield works started last September and included repaving, a new canopy, lighting, and CCTV improvements. The scheme also included a community hub in Broadfield Library which was completed in 2013.

A council spokesman said its main parade works, including fees, cost £521,765 and a community hub £24,925. The project’s budget was made up of £419,000 from the authority, £68,000 the Safer Crawley Partnership and £65,000 external stakeholders.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The council scrapped plans to replace columns supporting the former canopy after works revealed they were built as downpipes for the area’s sewage system. A council spokesman said replacing the columns, which are now due to be repainted within a month, would make the project overbudget.

* Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @Crawley_Obby

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Crawley Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics:Crawley Borough CouncilResidentsCCTV