COUNCIL STEPS UP BID TO MOVE SITE
FURIOUS councillors have accused Harborough District Council of pushing ahead with controversial plans to relocate its headquarters to a location on the town's outskirts without consulting the public.
Plans to relocate the council's offices from its 19th century home in Adam and Eve Street to a new building at St Luke's Hospital in Leicester Road have proved contentious.
Up to now, the Tory-run council has only admitted to proposing the move, but anger came to the fore yesterday (Wed) after a European Union tendering document was discovered – revealing that a bidding war was now under way for private companies to win the contract for the St Luke's move.
Residents, older people and mums with pushchairs have all slammed the possible relocation, saying it would make the offices much less accessible. The council was yesterday accused of keeping fellow councillors and residents in the dark over the move.
Meanwhile, a health trust spokesman spoke candidly to a councillor about the plan yesterday, saying: "We would like to let you know that the NHS trust and Harborough Council have placed a formal advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Union to initiate the procurement of the redevelopment of St Luke's.
"The 7.1 million development consists of a new integrated community hospital with some mental health and primary care facilities, and included within this development is an opportunity to deliver Harborough Council's plan to relocate key functions from its town centre offices."
The three-page tendering documents, which have been seen by the Mail, show that the building would be about 2,500 square metres.
A shortlist of those bidding for the tender is expected to be made early next year, followed by the selection of contractors by September 2011.
The trust hopes it could be completed by May 2013.
Cllr Sarah Hill (Lib Dem) said: "I was surprised to learn about this proposal through a tender notice.
"We haven't formally been told this was what is being considered. Whilst we need to move, there has been no debate in full council about this."
Fellow Lib Dem councillor Phil Knowles added: "Involvement of the public at the earliest possible juncture is paramount – we were promised this would be the case but I suggest that if this is proceeding at pace then the public should be invited to comment now."
A council spokesman said: "At its meeting on June 28, the executive agreed to ascertain market interest from potential developer partners for the relocation of the offices and the future of the existing building.
"It was agreed to take the opportunity to explore the benefits of co-location through the health trust's proposals for the St Luke's site.
"This does not commit the council, as responses from developers will be fully evaluated and reported back to the executive."
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Weather for Harborough
Sunday 05 February 2012
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Temperature: 1 C to 4 C
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