Tories, not government, to blame for town centre redevelopment fiasco

1.54.57pm GMT Mon 15th Dec 2008

The recent 'shock' that Hatfield town centre cannot be saved has been on the cards now for a long time, despite Tory pretence to the contrary. The council, desperate for a way to save their failing deals, went begging to the government in a last-ditch attempt to save face and get the redevelopment back on track. They could not have put a very convincing case, securing just £3M out of the £25M they had asked for.

Amazingly, our MP has finally commented on the redevelopment, after months of silence. He is blaming the Labour Government for what he admits is the 'death-knell' of the town centre redevelopment, after months of trying to soften the blow by pretending that the local Tories are still on track for the full redevelopment deal.

Welwyn Hatfield Liberal Democrats think our MP should place the blame for the redevelopment fiasco where it belongs, fairly and squarely on the Tory council leadership. They messed up the timing, repeatedly delayed negotiations, and worst of all hid the timing of their failure by announcing it after the election. Even the government can recognise a dead duck when they see one. How come Swindon got £9M? They must have put a better case.

Liberal Democrat Prospective MP Paul Zukowskyj commented "We expected the Tories to blame the government, indeed we predicted it in our last Focus newsletter. It's clearly nonsense. The council leadership are to blame and our MP should acknowledge that. Everyone who voted for Grant Shapps in the local elections just ended up with John Dean."

"We believe the public can now see through the mess the council have made. Time to vote them out... That's the only way Hatfield can put the past behind and begin the healing process. The gaping wound that is the town centre will simply not heal while the people to blame still run our council. Don't vote Tory in local elctions if you like Grant Shapps as all you get is John Dean."

For FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Zukowskyj

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