Most of us probably don't know that all that was settled a year ago was permission for that use of the land. The council run ventures can only go ahead if sufficient money is raised from the business ones.

Events that have taken place since that permission was given may have reduced those amounts of money to the point where the council ones are at risk.

The biggest reduction will come from the effect of falling house prices on the value of the several house building sites that are the main source of this money. The lack of activity on the housing parts of the plan is puzzling as an early start seemed critical, because only then will we know the money is there for the council- run parts of the plan.

There is also no news at all about progress in finding a buyer for the
hotel/restaurant/conference centre, any agreement with the police on the JSC, or any explanation on how the new Dome theatre and the Playhouse can co-exist without competing for the same audience.

Can the design of all these premises go ahead without the input of the eventual operators? I am thinking here in the case of the Playhouse, that the new operator will find all the major decisions on the building made before their appointment.

Does all this point to big delays. If I am wrong in these concerns, in a good part, it is because of the lack of updates from the
council.

I remember the leadership telling those with concerns about the plan that they were just causing delays and stopping work starting immediately. I think more than a year ahead and none of the major parts started we deserve a progress report that answers the questions posed here.

Over to you, Mr Mayor.


J BELL
Whitley Bay

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