Councillor wades into container cost row
Secretary of Filton cycle speedway and also Filton South
Glos Councillor, Roger Hutchinson, has spoken out about the confusion
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Filton Council container
surrounding a costly storage container rented by Filton Town Council.
The Council have been looking at what to do about the
container which has been rented for years, following the completion of the
Councils cycle speedway track in 2006. The container has cost the taxpayers of Filton approximately
£3,000 in rent, however at a recent Council meeting, no one was able to confirm
what the contents of the container actually are currently.
Writing on a Filton cycle speedway website page, Councillor
Hutchinson wrote "The cycle speedway track came from a
suggestion by the centre manager that some pedal go karts might be a good addition
to the recreation and fitness opportunities at Elm Park. The container is
mainly occupied by the Go karts, with a small amount of cycle speedway
equipment. It is therefore paid for by the Town Council who are the primary
user" Councillor Hutchinson also refuted suggestions that the majority of the
containers contents are connected to the cycle speedway club, describing it as
"nonsense"
Councillor Hutchinson confirmed however that the cycle club does keep equipment in the container.
The Go karts have only raised £60 in
income for the council this financial year against an expected £1000, resulting
in a call for a review for the need for an expensive container to store them
in.
The cycle speedway track has been heavily criticised in recent years for its lack of use and cost to the
Council of approximately £50,000. The benefit to local people has also been
seriously questioned, due to mainly clubs from outside the area using the
track, funded by Filton Council. The track is unused for approximately 350 days
a year.
The
Council are due to inspect the container this week, with a view to deciding on
its future use as an expense to taxpayers.
7 Comments
by EllieM2010
Thursday, November 17 2011, 12:00PM
“In an act of pure childishness Councillor Hutchinson has removed myself from a page providing updates to members on cycle track development simply for asking questions of its history. If this is how a councillor voted for to represent the people of filton fairly acts when asked to explain things, is it any wonder he has found himself in such hot water time after time? Every taxpayer in Filton supports the local cycle club through their taxes and he chooses to hide behind excuse after excuse. The Labour party should thrown him out!”
by Filtonion
Thursday, November 17 2011, 10:24AM
“Pathetic excuse from a has been councillor. If you can read between the lines its all an excuse for the inexcusable spending and self indulgent use of Elm Park for his personal hobbies, boules, cycle track and putting his personal favourite Ales in the Ratepayers!
Not once was any consultation carried out with filton people as to what they should spend the money on, thats the real story here, the abuse of spending. The Council was run like a family business and decisions made where meetings never even had enough councillors there to carry out a vote.
Those who voted to put this councillor forward yet again to represent filton, should hang their heads in shame and by the way, he did in fact call another councillor the most disgraceful name, the evidence is there....”
by Erinaceus
Wednesday, November 16 2011, 9:11PM
“Is this real? It's not an extended April Fool spoof? Come on, guys, you've taken the money, now open the box...”
by JohnDunkeld
Wednesday, November 16 2011, 12:19PM
“Simply wasting money whatever excuse you are given. money down the drain time after time.
Filton Independent Party”
by EllieM2010
Wednesday, November 16 2011, 10:55AM
“Its so hard to know who to belive with information about this and I have tried to find out the truth on the history. Previous articles tell us the Council paid £36,000 for the track, yet Councillor Hutchinson says the Council didn't pay a penny for the track or have naything to do with the container, yet they have equipment in it. Who agreed that thus could happen?
The cycle club do keep equipment in the container but make no contribution at all to its rent.
The blame for this mess lies squarely with the council who continue to ignore the issue as if they fear the repercussions from Cllr Hutchinson? Seems either spineless or suggests that there is some strange hold over the council.
Who is telling us the truth?”
by FreeFilton
Wednesday, November 16 2011, 9:27AM
“This is very interesting as when you read the filton speedway website they haven't even entered a team in the 2009 or 2010 league, so what is going on here?
For the council to allow this to go on providing free storage for a track hardly used is wrong. Its time to take action and sort this mess out.”
by DanGleebles
Wednesday, November 16 2011, 9:12AM
“Oh right I see now, it was because someone suggested Go Karts that the council built the unused cycle track, how interesting. I wonder if there is anyone who disagrees with the explanation of how it was all born.....”