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Isle of Wight: Broadway Centre, Sandown, repairs controversy

COUNCIL TAX WARNING OVER CENTRE REPAIRS

By Jon Moreno - Thursday, July 3, 2008
COUNCIL TAX WARNING OVER CENTRE REPAIRS
Sandown's Broadway Centre could cost £400,000 to repair for continued use.
A MASSIVE hike in Sandown’s precept to save the deteriorating Broadway Centre from eventual collapse could plunge those already struggling financially on to the breadline.
This was the dire warning from councillors to residents over whether the centre should be repaired.
Residents at a special meeting of Sandown Town Council backed refurbishing the building, despite a £400,000-plus bill to spare it from collapse, as outlined in a survey.
A sharp increase in council tax could follow, said Sandown mayor Cllr Ian Ward.
Over the past three years, council tax in Sandown has risen by almost 25 per cent.
A number of councillors objected to the suggestion.
Cllr Connie Cowley said: “Everything’s going up in price. If I can’t afford it, what about pensioners? We joined the town council to protect Sandown residents but we may end up putting them out of their homes.
“I don’t want people saying, ‘I can’t afford to eat’. We should be careful not to push them over the bread-line.”
Broadway centre manager Cllr Dave Rogers, a former council tax officer, warned it would hit hard those already struggling to pay bills.
Retaining the building was supported by 17 per cent of the Sandown electorate in a recent referendum. However, more than 57 per cent did not participate.
Cllr Bob Blezzard, who backs raising the precept, suggested finding alternative sources of cash to help with the refurbishment cost.
Cllr Chris Dupre, who would rather see a community facility on the site, said: “I won’t pay a penny on my council tax to try to rescue the building. It is like a blood-gushing wound. Don’t let it affect our precept.”
Former Sandown mayor Cllr Gary Young agreed thousands of pounds could be saved by putting a new building on part of the site.
The centre’s future will be decided after the Isle of Wight Council elections next year, pledged Cllr Ward. Options are being formulated and grant applications considered in the meantime.
Graham Street, of the Isle of Wight Bat Hospital, warned bats roost in the building and any development of it would mean re-housing them at a cost of up to £30,000.
• Letters in the Friday, July 4, County Press.