The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
It’s been pledged that Sutton Bridge residents will get a say on plans to build a new pavilion, which has been branded a waste of money by some.
The parish council is looking to rebuild the facilities at Memorial Park which are around 70 years old.
But at a meeting last week resident Peter Clery launched a campaign against it, calling it “a vanity project”.
He said the council was looking to raise £1m for a new pavilion to also include offices for the authority alongside a cafe and the new sporting facilities.
Mr Clery argues that the town already has the Curlew Centre, which the council rents for £4,000 a year, and a £150,000 structure entirely for sport would suffice.
“The council has already spent or committed £70,000 on advice,” he said. “This would have funded almost half of a new Sports Council standard football pavilion.
“The money has gone on fees to a project manager (Ridge & Co) who have advised on an architect (Oglesby and Limb Ltd).
“To date the only things to show for this money are tentative alternative plans and a tank-load of talk.
“The practical alternative is to have an excellent off-the-peg football pavilion close to the present one for about £150,000.
“This figure comes from an indicative quotation from a specialist firm’s Club Range of timber pavilions.”
Coun Chris Brewis has led the campaign for the new pavilion and said that nothing has been finalised, including the cost.
He told The Voice it would be funded by grants and costs dependant on what could be gained.
He also said it would be put to a referendum.
“We’ve already resolved that it will be put to a referendum for those in the parish to decide,” he said. “The current pavilion is 70 years old and coming to the end of its life.
“It’s presence is inhibiting improving the facilities for the sports teams that use it.
“All of the funding will come by grants but we don’t know yet what will be forthcoming.
“No tenders have been brought and to suggest it would definitely cost a million is misleading.
“Whatever happens and no matter the cost, people in Sutton Bridge will decide.”
