Daylight Robbery!

Rugby rate payers to bail out Rugby Cement!
Yet again!


It was revealed in the Warwickshire Telegraph and Rugby Times this week that there is a :

"ROW ON £2,000,000 BILL FOR ROAD DELAYS"

Rugby and Warwickshire Council tax payers could be footing a £2 million bill because of the delays over Rugby's planned "Relief Road" that is specially designed to assist Rugby Cement with its increased use of the cement works, its waste burning activities in the co-incinerator, and the development of its industrial site, the Malpas on Parkfield road.

BRIAN FOLLETT OF WCC:
"Delays getting the scheme approved by the government meant two of the four time-sensitive deals (section 106 agreements) have now expired.

Any shortfall in the total contributions from the Dept of Transport and the remaining developers will have to be MADE UP BY THE COUNCIL."

"It's not a total disaster, but some money will be lost. At risk is £2 million."

MP JEREMY WRIGHT : branded the situation "disgraceful" "It is a waste of taxpayers money and it is not acceptable. It is quite unreasonable that the government should make them foot the bill.

WCC AND RUGBY CEMENT HAVE DONE THIS TOGETHER:
It was Rugby Cement who "requested" Mr Deegan of WCC to delay the "issuing of the Legal Orders for the WRR for three months" in the WCC Cabinet meeting of 15th June 2000 - while RC considered the "opening of the railway to their clay quarry for 50 lorries a day".

"Legal Orders to be issued for the northern section only providing that by then Rugby Cement has given a firm undertaking in writing to the County Council that it will "promote" (whatever that means??) the re-opening of the disused railway line to Southam through the necessary statutory procedures, and PAY THE ADDITIONAL COSTS INCURRED IN CONSTRUCTION THE NORTHERN SECTION OF THE ROAD AS A FIRST PHASE!"

Then, as we all know, Rugby Cement came back and said they were willing to re-open the railway to Southam for their 50 clay lorries a day - as long as and only IF as a CONDITION the UK taxpayers paid for it!!! Otherwise it was a non-starter - as everyone knew all along. Dunchurch village had failed to stop the 50 lorries in their streets that SO worried them an their County Councillors!

Seven years on we have this mess! THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR DEEGAN :

"The implication of this delay is that the opening of the WRR will be put back by THREE MONTHS! There is LITTLE FINANCIAL RISK in the delay because the AGREEMENTS with the Developers have a TEN YEAR LIFE!" quote John Deegan 31st May 2000. Is WCC incompetent - or what? Don't ask!

MEANWHILE Rugby is polluted, congested, and intimidated, by the RUGBY CEMENT 800 to 1,000 LORRIES rumbling in our streets 365 days a year! Perhaps Rugby residents can have a whip round to pay for the road - or maybe the cement plant better close down instead?

And what are WCC doing about it? On 12th December 2006:

Gordon Collett (see previous post for piccy) proposed a motion and Heather Timms seconded it;

"That this Council views with great concern the lack of progress that has been made on the Rugby WRR. This project is VITAL to the people and businesses of Rugby and Warwickshire as a whole.

This Council commends the ongoing hard work of WCC officers in developing the RWRR, but also notes with CONCERN the cost implications of the delayed announcement of the secretary of State. This Council is disappointed that the delay of the Secretary of State announcement may result in a funding shortfall and hopes the government recognises this in any future settlement."

Motion carried unanimously by 33 councillors.

BUT WHOSE FAULT IS IT ANYWAY?