SERIOUS doubts are due to be raised at a Town Hall meeting tomorrow night (Wednesday, March 26) about the future of Chester’s Northgate Development.
Former council leader Cllr Paul Roberts (Lib Dem, Farndon) and Labour leader Cllr John Price (Blacon Hall), his deputy in the ousted Lib Dem/Labour administration, have given notice of a motion which claims there has been ‘disastrous mishandling’ of the long awaited scheme.
With the massive £460m project due to have been signed off in November last year - now delayed until November this year - the councillors argue the delays have been caused solely by the ‘ill judged decision’ by the newly elected Conservative controlled council to renegotiate, ‘leading to the current position where it is clear the scheme has no chance of proceeding intact, and very little chance of proceeding at all’.
“In view of the impending loss of £460m of inward investment, Council calls for the immediate resignation of the Executive Member, together with a full apology to the people of Chester for causing this immense damage to the future economic vitality of the city,” say the councillors.
They are seeking the head of the city's development supremo Cllr Mike Jones (Con, Tattenhall).
Cllr Roberts commented: “When the Tories took over, the Northgate Development project was all set for the final signatures last July, with a start planned last autumn.
“Cllr Jones' insistence on renegotiating the contract not only gave Chester a much worse deal, but caused months of delay.
“As a result, the scheme was hit by last autumn's global credit crunch, which means the scheme is no longer financially viable.
“By contrast, Liverpool, a Lib Dem run city, has secured major redevelopment projects which will enhance its competitiveness.”
