The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
May I refer to the news item ‘Row over sports pavilion’ in March 23 edition.
Reporter Richard Rush has set out my position very well. Sadly, Coun Brewis seems to have strayed from reality in his response.
A new sports pavilion is certainly needed but Coun Brewis has on several occasion actively hindered proposals over the past five years. Even now, a decent sports pavilion could be built for £200,000.
The figure of £1m was put forward by the parish council last year.
Coun Brewis has no idea what grants might be available for his vanity project. He claims that all the funding will come from this source, but who would give a grant to duplicate facilities already available in the Curlew Centre?
He was refused outright by local businesses. Even if half the money (£500,000) was found from grants, this would mean borrowing of the same amount. A loan of £500,000 would cost about £40,000 a year which the parish would have to find.
The council pay only £333 a month (£4,000 pa) to the Curlew Centre for their facility.
The proposal for a referendum is no more than a back door “take it or leave it” proposal.
The community deserves a choice between a proper sports pavilion and Coun Brewis’s vanity project.
There will be a chance for a new parish council to look again at this matter after the May 4 election.
Peter Clery
Sutton Bridge
