WISBECH: Concern over the waterfront development

THANK you for publishing the story, regarding my views on the problems the town continues to face in Wisbech High Street. Your front page regarding the waterfront development, though, compounds the level of incompetence Wisbech experiences from the member

THANK you for publishing the story, regarding my views on the problems the town continues to face in Wisbech High Street.

Your front page regarding the waterfront development, though, compounds the level of incompetence Wisbech experiences from the members of Fenland District Council.

The council leader, according to your report, does not even know whether the main contractors are still involved. As a well-known tennis player might have screamed - "you cannot be serious".

It then transpires that no penalty clauses were put into the contracts, if Taylor Wimpey failed to deliver, and because of this the town has lost £2million of grants. I assume that the contracts would have been overseen by the council's solicitor. Did he not recommend such a clause and, if he didn't, is he still in a job?

If he did, and the advice was ignored, then why haven't we seen a flurry of resignations?

How much money has already been spent and is any of it recoverable?

Taylor Wimpey has pulled out of a number of developments, especially in the USA, and has laid off thousands of workers. To expect that any progress is likely in the foreseeable future is fanciful, but let us hope it is sorted more quickly than either the High Street fiasco or the town centre traffic chaos.

Finally, I would draw your attention to the photograph of Clive Gibbon, standing in front of the newly-constructed Boathouse complex, on the Fenland District Council page in your paper. Apparently he has the task of finding tenants for this "visually stunning business premises". I have no doubt that his task will be made easier by the visually stunning building site alongside.

BARRIE HOTSON

Director

Specs 4 Less

High Street

Wisbech