New community centre 'must happen despite cost'

A new £3.8m community centre "must proceed" despite concerns that council tax payers will have to foot the bill, a former Telford parish council leader has told a planning meeting.

Former Lawley and Overdale Parish Council chairman John Yorke cited local concerns that a new swimming pool in Dawley was being built at no cost to taxpayers, while the planned community centre at Bryce Way was being paid for by his former parish.

But he urged the planning committee to approve it because the current community centre in Arleston Lane was "of miniscule size, poorly heated, poorly ventilated".

The committee unanimously supported the proposal subject to conditions at a meeting on Wednesday.

"Lawley residents were to have the facility at nil cost," Yorke said.

"Now the residents are having to totally finance its multi-million cost via a loan and possibly some grants, yet next door in Dawley work started this week on a £8m swimming pool and project totally financed from capital monies."

Lawley and Overdale Parish Council is the applicant, and its councillors spoke in favour of the project at the meeting.

Zona Hannington, who is both a parish councillor and a member of Telford and Wrekin Council's cabinet, said it was "essential infrastructure" for the area, would create six jobs and that local organisations "need space now."

Parish council documents reveal that local Band D council taxes in the parish will rise by about 44p a week to help the project proceed.

The money will be needed to pay off a 40-year loan with an annual fixed rate of £263,113.

A petition against the plan was also submitted to the council from 48 addresses, with 14 objections submitted to the borough council.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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