REDDITCH Borough Council leader Coun Matt Dormer has criticised the town’s Labour Group’s alternative plans for the town centre, claiming the proposals were ‘not credible’.
Current plans would see the library service moved to the Town Hall as part of a community hub, with the existing building then demolished and using cash from the Town’s Fund to make way for a plaza.
Labour’s proposals, released earlier this month, would continue with the community hub, but changes included keeping the library where it is and renegotiating the Town’s Fund to be reallocated into putting a new glass-front design onto the existing building.
But Coun Dormer said the community hub and plaza proposals ‘hadn’t just been pulled out of thin air, unlike these latest alternative suggestions.’
He added: “For years the council has worked with consultants to come up with the best approach to utilise the space we have to benefit the town.
“Then the funding to make these proposals a reality was successfully bid for by the Town Deal Board of which the council is a member along with businesses and representatives of Redditch.
“Any major change to the project’s scope, such as that put forward by the Redditch Labour Party, has to be discussed and approved or rejected by the Town Deal Board before being submitted to Government for its approval or rejection.
“Such a change must be evidenced and justified in a new business case, which can take a long time and if not approved could see us losing the Government funds, as these must be spent by the March 31, 2026.
“If schemes are only partially completed at this date the council, and ultimately the taxpayer, is responsible for funding at this point.”
Redditch Labour leader Coun Joe Baker defended his party’s alternative proposals, and insisted they have come up with a ‘viable plan that had the expectations of the public at heart.’
“We have done our homework and are confident it will meet the requirements.
“It is unfortunate that Coun Dormer still insists on his vanity project going forward even though it has very little support from the public.”
