Conservatives Repeating Same Mistakes on Monks Lane

The Liberal Democrat opposition at West Berkshire Council has slammed the ruling Conservative administration as the latest legal challenge to their plans to develop a sporting facility at Monks Lane gained momentum last week.

The local Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservative administration of repeating similar mistakes to those made 4 years ago over the London Road Industrial Estate.

Jeff Brooks, Liberal Democrat Finance spokesperson on West Berkshire Council, said:

“Four years ago, the Conservative administration were taken to court over irregularities within a contract they had signed with a developer for their London Road Industrial Estate (LRIE) redevelopment plans. The High Court found that their Procurement process was flawed, and this cost the Council around £946,000 – that is taxpayers’ money wasted”.

“Now they find themselves in the dock again, this time over their plans for a Sports Hub at Newbury Rugby Club which they are aiming to use as a replacement for the Faraday Road Stadium in the LRIE and to house Newbury Football Club. Like before, they won the initial hearing and immediately put out a press release. But now just like the last time, the judge has decided against the Council and the hearing will now go forward for a full judicial review”.  

Tony Vickers, Lib Dem Planning and Highways Spokesperson on West Berkshire Council, added:

“The Council clearly has not learned any lessons and, even if they win, their botched project management and attempts to pre-determine the planning process throughout this sorry episode has brought further reputational damage on themselves”.  

“We will be doing everything we can to win control of the Council next May in the all-out elections and, if we are successful, we will immediately implement a review, to make sure that honesty, integrity and transparency are paramount in every decision we take, with proper and thorough public consultations and real appreciation of the views of residents”. 

“Their plans for London Road are still not clear. They hold secretive working groups which excludes opposition councillors. They held a ‘consultation’ during the height of lockdown with very little feedback from the businesses in Faraday Road. It simply isn’t good enough”. 

Jeff Brooks, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats on West Berkshire Council, said:

‘We want to see football retained in the town centre. The current ground will be key to mitigate potential flood issues, which would be required before any further development can happen on the LRIE, so it makes sense to everyone apart from the Conservatives. Their lack of collaboration and ‘we know best’ approach to running the council has left the public feeling more and more taken for granted. We are calling on them now to suspend their plans for Monks Lane and work properly with the community and all stakeholders to develop a plan that is the right one for the Town and District.”