Lib Dems call for a greater commitment to redevelopment of Hatfield town

11.34.26am GMT Fri 5th Dec 2008

At a public meeting last night (Thursday) council leaders finally admitted that the town centre plan that was displayed in ASDA and the council offices won't be what Hatfield gets.

Conservative Council Leader John Dean announced to the meeting that the bid for grant money to the Department for Communities and Local Government would be 'allocated proportionately'.

When Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Paul Zukowskyj then asked the leadership what would happen when the bid was not fully funded (apparently not a single bid for this grant aid has ever been fully funded), Chief Executive Michel Saminaden admitted that the plan would have to be revised 'in negotiation with St. Modwen'.

So what does this mean for the Hatfield Town Centre Redevelopment?

Paul commented after the meeting 'What this means is the plan will have to be downgraded. Will this mean less homes? Most unlikely as that's where the developers profit is. Will it mean less shops? Again, not likely. What it amounts to is the almost certain death-knell of community facilities like the Bill Salmon centre. These are the parts of the plan with the least return for the developer, so they'll be the first targets for cuts to save money."

Local party chair Nigel Quinton added: "Hatfield residents want the council to finally show some real leadership and be clear at last that they see the development of Hatfield Town Centre as the single biggest development priority in the borough. Should the bid for government money not be funded in full, as everyone expects, then the council should commit to use whatever funds it does receive to make sure the Hatfield project goes ahead as planned."

ENDS