Lib-Dem warning over projects

OLDHAM’S Lib-Dem group finance spokesman Councillor John McCann has broadly welcomed the Labour-run cabinet’s big regeneration projects — but warned that they must be kept on budget and schedule.

Speaking after this week’s Oldham Council Cabinet meeting discussions on the Eastern Gateway and Hotel Future schemes, Councillor McCann said: “I’m delighted to see these schemes. But combined with the costs of the Oldham Old Town Hall development, the sports centre and the Royton town centre regeneration schemes, the costs of these big programmes may impact on the council’s revenue.

“There are further cuts of £60 million in the next two years. These big regeneration projects are a bit like taking out a mortgage for extensions to a house. We have got to be completely sure that these schemes will run to time and costs. These are issues will we will be highlighting in our budget work for next year.

“The Lib-Dems support such ambition but the risks are fantastically high.”