Conservative Shadow Chairman for Asset and Enterprise, Roger Hirst has hit out at the shameful tactics of those running Brentwood Council, in regard to the Hutton Community Centre.
Roger said, “For the past eighteen months, those now in charge of the Council have criticised the project and made a series of unfounded claims about the safety, finances and use of the Centre.”
Most recently, rumours were spread that the building was unsafe, not fit for use and that the roof was dangerously close to collapsing.
However, at a Committee meeting last night, two independent reports were presented to councillors, both confirming that the building was indeed safe and fit for use, proving the building to be habitable and dispelling the claims made by the Administration and others.
In order to put the matter to rest once and for all, Hutton North Councillor, Louise McKinlay put forward a motion calling on the councillors to confirm that the Centre was indeed safe to use. Amazingly, despite the evidence confirming this to absolutely be the case, the coalition refused to accept they were wrong by backing the motion and showing their support for the Centre.
Roger added, “Members of the Administration have been playing politics with the Centre ever since the project started. From fanciful claims that it would cost £500,000 to renovate to suggestions once it was open that it was unsafe for children, they appear to have gone out of their way to “do down” all of the good work that the local community has put in to it. Now they have the hard facts in two independent reports and still they refuse to just accept they were wrong, put politics aside and back the Centre.”
Conservatives Councillors will continue to support the work and efforts that the local residents and shadow trustees are putting in to making the Centre a success.
Louise McKinlay said, “The shadow trustees have been there from the start and have made this project happen. I will be backing them all the way as we work to improve Hutton and the local area.”
ENDS
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Contact:
Roger Hirst: 07785 366235
Louise McKinlay – 07786 324743