Hungerford's Croft Field building repairs prove costly

District council refusing to pay town council £8,500

THE cost implications of repairing the Croft Field building were outlined to Hungerford Town Council’s recreation and amenities committee on Monday, March 21.

Previously this newspaper reported how town councillors were preparing for a David versus Goliath-style legal battle with West Berkshire Council after it allegedly reneged on a deal to split the cost.

Meanwhile, after taking on the lease from West Berkshire, the town council must bear the cost of essential repairs and disabled access upgrades alone.

Town mayor Martin Crane told the committee: “We’ve spent nearly £25,000 because West Berkshire allowed it to fall into a state of disrepair.”

Carolann Farrell said: “There’s still a piece of guttering missing.

“We need to have it sealed because if we don’t we could regret it next year.

“The rear fire doors need a canopy over them as both are exposed to the wind and rain. There also needs to be a disabled ramp.

“We’re running into problems and we really need to resolve this.”

The town council insists that West Berkshire Council agreed in writing to pay £8,500 towards the renovation costs.

But when district councillors James Podger and Paul Hewer (both Con, Hungerford) used their members’ bid cash to offset the town council’s bill, West Berkshire claimed that it had thereby fulfilled its obligation.

Mr Crane told the committee meeting that the battle for the cash was continuing and said he had written to both men for confirmation that they had submitted the members’ bid after the district council promised to pay £8,500.

But he added: “I have yet to have their responses, which is rather disappointing.

“They could have come back straight away and the fact neither neither has done so is somewhat disturbing to my mind.”

Mr Crane has said the town council was still considering taking West Berekshire Council to court over the issue.