EDITOR'S CHOICE TOP STORIES ENFIELD: Police have shown a lack of respect, admits top officer WANDSWORTH: Student wins Diana award Johnson's deputy dismisses sex claims FEATURES Police show ‘zero tolerance’ in drink driver crackdown Helping in many different ways MAYOR NEWS Taxis allowed to stop on red routes TRAVEL Taxis allowed to stop on red routes COMPETITIONS Win! Tickets to see Never Forget at the Savoy Theatre VOTE One year on, do you think the smoking ban should stay in force? Yes No GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 Win £500 to spend at Borehamwood Shopping Park 2 Bees make meal of McDonald deal 3 Update: Boy murdered in gang attack 4 JD Sports Competition 5 Win! A Wimbledon Summer Sun Safety Pack worth £100 6 EPSOM: ‘Gangsters in garage fraud’ 7 Office opens up in St James's Park 8 EALING: Teen faces jail for massive heroin stash 9 LEWISHAM: French students bound and brutally stabbed 10 ST ALBANS: On call doc refused to see my child Today | 7 Days 1 Update: Boy murdered in gang attack 2 £500 fee plan for fighting dogs 3 BUCKS: Joshua's 50 mile trek with a broken arm 4 Bomb plotter laughs at one-year jail term 5 LAMBETH: Teen jailed for at least 20 years over crossfire death 6 Headteacher and friends pay tribute to 'bubbly' teen 7 Killer ladybirds in the capital 8 Curry house outrage over website 9 ST ALBANS: Stripping teaching was trying to be cool 10 MP says BNP Remembrance wreath 'dishonours war dead'

Comment

The Riverside plans

Campaigners against the Twickenham Riverside development have expressed concern after the borough's financial boss labelled it "high risk".

In a memo to opposition deputy leader Councillor Geoffrey Samuel, Mark Maidment, director of finance and corporate confirmed the Twickenham Riverside project, specifically "the element of the project that involves the Environment Trust running the river centre at nil subsidy from the council is, at this stage, considered high risk".

However, Mr Maidment said meetings and representations from officers had made clear this was to be expected at this early stage and "should not stop the further development of this scheme".

He listed the actions being taken to improve plans before appointing a developer, including work on assumptions over catering income, staffing, volunteers and external grant funding. He also noted the council had written into the draft plan that it is under no obligation to meet any shortfall in the Environment Trust's plans, and that it could assume control of the building if there was a funding shortfall.

Coun Samuel demanded information on what the council means by promising it will take over the River Centre building. He said: "If it goes pear-shaped and the council takes it over what will the building become? Council offices?"

Council leader Coun Serge Lourie, said: "Naturally, we have to have contingency plans for the possibility of the River Centre failing and it is no secret that we think improvements can be made, but we are confident the Environment Trust will present a robust business plan."

Coun Lourie said it was "quite normal to be in this sort of situation at this stage" but added he expected an amended business plan in the next three months and is meeting with the Environment Trust in the next couple of weeks to discuss the project.

8:19am Tuesday 13th May 2008

Print

Email this

Comment

Add your comment

Name:
Email: *
Location:
**
	e.g. 123-123
Comment: Please note: All HTML tags will be ignored. Format Text:
By posting a comment, I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms of use. Comments are not moderated but we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention and we may delete inappropriate postings. Please treat other people with respect. You must not post anything that is abusive, indecent, unlawful or defamatory. Remember, you are personally liable for what you post on this site. If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us here.
* Your email address will not be displayed ** To avoid register now or login