Angry town councillors in Nantwich have hit out at Cheshire East Council as delays on how to spend £750,000 of “public realm” funds rumble on.
The Section 106 money was allocated nearly seven years ago by Kingsbourne housing developers as part of the conditions of planning approval to build 1,000 homes.
Nantwich Town Council has been in negotiations with Cheshire East for several years on how best to spend the money to improve the look of the town.
But now Cheshire East officers, much to town councillors surprise, say three other projects – including two focused on Cheshire East-owned facilities – can apply for the public realm money.
These other projects include improvements to Nantwich Library, improvements to Nantwich Museum, and improvements to Nantwich Methodist Church.
Town councillors have accused CEC of not applying eligibility criteria “consistently or transparently”.
They say Section 106 money was set aside for improvements to the public realm rather than to Cheshire East-owned facilities.
In a report, town council clerk Samantha Roberts said: “CEC has now advised that following an internal process and internal consultation with other departments, they have received a total of four applications for funding using the S106 money.
“Public funds secured via development obligations may disproportionately benefit building owners (notably Cheshire East Council) by enabling structural works that argue would have been necessary regardless of the Kingsley Fields development.”
Cllr Riddell Graham added: “This issue has been mismanaged by Cheshire East Council.
“We were asked for our views and spent well over a year backwards and forwards on designs on what parts of the public realm should benefit.
“At no stage was there instruction that it could be spent on buildings.
“Then at the 11th hour we are suddenly informed that three buildings, two of which are owned by Cheshire East, could benefit! Legally I have doubts that money can be spent in this way.
“The definition of public realm is improvements to town centre facilities and does not include buildings that happen to be owned by Cheshire East.
“I suspect that CEC officers have been told to widen the definition… and bear in mind that Cheshire East is pretty short of money!”
Cllr Groves said if the town council had known structural works to buildings were possible, they could have applied for repairs to the Civic Hall and market hall.
Cllr Caroline Kirkham added: “It feels like the parameters have changed here and we have not been notified. We were not told from the start it could be for revenue projects and I agree with the clerk.”
And Cllr Kim Jamson said: “I can’t believe what I’m reading! We’ve worked really hard on this to ensure the residents get the best deal.”
Town councillors agreed to respond and have called for clarity on how decisions were made and how they were applied at such a late stage.
Nantwich Town Council have previously submitted a plan to spend £500,000 of the money on improvements to key gateways into the town.
This would include new signage and banners, better pedestrian crossings, newly landscaped areas, and digital information points.
A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: “The ‘public realm contribution’ associated with the Kingsbourne development in Nantwich may be used, under the terms of the section 106 agreement, towards the cost of improvements to the public realm and town centre facilities in Nantwich.
“Cheshire East Council has not yet made any decision as to which facilities or public realm should be improved and is currently seeking the town council’s views, to help inform that decision.”
I agree with Barrie regards snow hill car park. At schools out time it is flooded with kids cutting through to get to town. The road going through the middle of it is very busy at these times and the kids dice with death, crossing on bad bends or a busy junction. Something like this is far higher priority than building repairs. We’re talking about much needed safety measures.
Let’s use this money to fund more LGBT+ inclusive events and show the country that we are an diverse town.
I agree. And how about fixing the many uneven pavements especially between the library and M & S.
Snow Hill car park needs identifiable level footpaths and a pedestrian crossing
Disappointing, I’m not surprised. Cheshire East do what they want, a protected beaucracy of failure, denying a well-run town council that act in the interest of their people.
There was a report a little while ago that mentioned CEC’S mismanagement of Sect 106 funds and that there was a danger that some would have to be repaid to developers. Is anyone aware of the latest position on this as it appears that it is still being poorly managed.
Assume Nantwich will receive the £750k plus compound interest
not good enough, where are the inclusive pavements around the barony, for disabled cycles and runners. why cannot you view the river from the paths, and make the river edge more accessible, whole areas of the park and river walk need improving more seats and more communal meeting areas, for picnics and bbq’s the roads are clogged up with cars, we need more closed off spaces for concerts, music events, and shows