"Lunatic" plans for office move will harm Weston

10.57.00am GMT Tue 5th Jan 2010

Plans by North Somerset Council's ruling Conservative Executive to press ahead with the acquisition of the Castlewood building in Clevedon for £16 million have been branded "lunatic" by Weston-super-Mare's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Mike Bell.

Mr Bell said: "The dogmatic way that ruling Conservatives are desperately clinging onto this £16 million plan in the face of all sense and reason proves that the lunatics have taken over the asylum.

"They pretend that jobs will not be lost in Weston - and yet their finance plan depends on selling off or closing offices where 762 town centre workers are based. Is there that much room in Nigel Ashton's Ivory Towers?

"Even if they could sell off or close Somerset House, Oxford House, Weston Court, Clifton Road, Badger House, the SWEB building, Woodhurst Road and others with the subsequent transfer of hundreds of jobs to Clevedon, their finance plan only shows savings averaging £64,000 a year over 25 years.

"It is absolute madness to do untold damage to jobs and the Weston town centre economy to make such tiny savings - just 0.05% of the annual budget."

North Somerset Council will be urged to approve the plans at tomorrow's full council meeting by Conservative leaders. The Council has today issued a statement reiterating the financial savings to be secured under the plan and stressing the authority's commitment to job creation in the resort.

Mr Bell has also expressed concern at the financial robustness of the Council's business case. He said: "The Council report assumes that all existing leases can be terminated and properties disposed of. It also assumes that interest rates on the £16 million in borrowing will not change. But just a 0.35% shift in rates will slash the savings achieved over the 25 years in half, in the current financial climate the savings could disappear altogether.

"The sums just don't add up. The Council is deliberately concealing how many jobs will be lost. They are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of everyone from the MP to the residents of our town. They must not get away with it. Weston Conservative Councillors must stand up for their community and do what they were elected to do - fight for us all."