Town poll is imperative’

Published: 9:48 AM March 11, 2010

Updated: 11:12 AM November 7, 2020

Honiton Town Council s planning committee meets on March 16 to decide whether or not to submit the revised flexible building and business plan to EDDC. It is time to remind the electorate of Honiton of past financial statements and funds in place.

Honiton Town Council's planning committee meets on March 16 to decide whether or not to submit the revised flexible building and business plan to EDDC.

It is time to remind the electorate of Honiton of past financial statements and funds in place. Section 106 monies of �500,000, plus �333,000 set aside by EDDC, some of which is already spent on building plans rejected over the years, plus a loan facility of �250,000 in place, repayable over 25 years, an anonymous donation of �60,000, plus any monies raised by the project committee, not divulged.

Councillors are now backing a borrowing facility of up to �975,000, the estimated cost of �1.75 million to deliver the community complex.

The revised multi-purpose building in design is acceptable and a lot of hard work has gone into the business plan. Whether or not it is viable now or in the future will be scrutinised by EDDC planning committee, and to consider the responsibility placed on the town and the councillors involved at this time.

Whether being brave because of low interest rates or not, the financial climate is very fragile and, with Global financial problems now arising, even the government cannot see a way forward.

It is, therefore, imperative that a town poll should be called and a responsible council should welcome it, knowing the people of the town would be willing to take on this enormous financial burden.