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26
Nov 2021
EXCLUSIVE: Ripon leisure scheme racks up additional £1m cost
The Stray Ferret can reveal that Ripon’s new swimming pool and leisure centre has racked up another £1 million in cost.
According to a freedom of information request obtained by Ripon resident and chartered civil engineer Stanley Mackintosh, the council agreed a budget of £14.5 million for the scheme back in September.
The Stray Ferret previously reported that the scheme was already £3.3 million over budget.
The new figure was revealed after Mr Mackintosh successfully appealed a decision by Harrogate Borough Council to refuse disclosing the information on commercial grounds.
Following an internal review, the council overturned its previous refusal and disclosed the total sum of its budget in September.
In its full FOI response to Mr Mackintosh HBC said that:
- Money already paid for construction and associated works is £12,936,235.55.
- A further £619,427.06, is allocated for payment.
- The total sum of the councils budget is £14,590,665.00.
This means that the authority’s budget is £4 million more than a previous contract agreed for construction.
The original 17-month contract signed with construction company and principal contractor Willmott Dixon was for £10.2 million, with a completion date of May this year.
However, the move was delayed and the pool is expected to open on December 8.
Read more:
- Sinkhole experts urge councillors to consider new site for Ripon pool
- Ripon’s delayed leisure scheme more than £3m over budget
- Conservative councillor says Ripon leisure scheme is poor use of public money
Mr Mackintosh told the Stray Ferret that he felt the site is unstable and that “things were bound to go wrong” with the site.
He said:
The morning, Conservative Cllr Nigel Simms said he stood by his view that the choice of Dallamires Lane for the new pool was a poor use of public money.
Cllr Simms told the Stray Ferret:
Further concern of the pool site was raised earlier this month after a council-commissioned report by engineering company Stantec outlined measures to mitigate the effects of a void that was detected last year.
Dr Alan Thompson, a geologist and director of Cuesta Consulting in Somerset, called for the council to postpone a decision on the measures and give greater consideration to finding an alternative site.
However, senior councillors voted to press ahead with its plan to carry out further work while opening most of the site.
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