More Outrage at cost of Chicksands Development

2.31.11pm GMT Sun 27th Feb 2005

THE final cost of the controversial new central office for Mid Bedfordshire Council is set to increase by a further £2.7 MILLION. Despite continuous assurances at the onset of the project that costs would not spiral, further amounts have been added to the project costs at regular intervals.

In October the then 'final' figure for the set of news offices in Chicksands was increased to a total of £12.3 million. Now, five months later the budget is going to rise yet again.

In less than 12 months the budget for Chicksands has risen by over 20 per cent. When the plans were first submitted, the total bill was at £10.6 million. This figure has now increased by almost £5 million.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Harlington Brian Golby said: "It's totally outrageous. This increase is on top of a 13.3 per cent increase in the Mid Bedfordshire portion of the council tax.

"Enough is enough, it's time to cancel Chicksands."