News: Rising costs sees Rotherham country park regeneration schemes scaled back
Proposed regeneration schemes at two country parks in Rotherham have had to be scaled back with Thrybergh impacted most. Government funding has been reallocated so that the projects can go ahead.
Securing money from the Government's Levelling Up Fund (LUF), £19.9m was awarded for a number of connected projects which aim to build a new leisure industry that responds to the challenges of economic recovery and health and well-being.
A £2.5m improvement plan for Thrybergh Country Park moved a step closer last year after plans for a new café building were approved by the council.
At Rother Valley Country Park, planning permission has been secured for a £5.5m upgrade - the centrepiece being a new waterfront café.
Contractors were also lined up to carry out the work but a new council report states that, following market testing, both projects required "revised budgets as a result of the impact of inflation and the volatile national and international construction market."
Rotherham Council's cabinet are being asked to approve the new way forward which means that there is a "reduced scope" for the Thrybergh scheme where a new café building has been scrapped and replaced by a refurbished café and outside space.
At Rother Valley, plans for a new build waterfront café and new car park would go ahead, with some aspects, such as a landscaped events space taken out.
The council report states: "This option delivers most closely to the original intentions of the LUF scheme in that it will achieve improvements at both sites, creating impact for residents and delivering the greatest economic benefits and supporting the financial recovery of Rother Valley Country Park. However, this is at a reduced scope to that set out to Cabinet in August 2023 and it comes at an additional cost."
There has been an overall increase in the programme budget of £2.310m.
With Pathfinder status, Rotherham is able to make changes to its government-funded regeneration programmes and now plans to not continue with using Town Deal money for its Parkgate-Eastwood Bridge scheme that has faced complexities around Network Rail infrastructure and private land issues. Money for the bridge is expected to be moved to the country park schemes if approved by cabinet.
At Rother Valley, contractors, Kier are set to proceed with construction of the new facilities in September 2024 with completion in October 2025. The tender with I&G Ltd for Thrybergh will not proceed and a new procurement exercise will be required.
The report adds: "Supporting the financial recovery of Rother Valley County Park is seen as a priority for the Leisure & Culture Service with the new build café and events space seen as a critical step in achieving that goal.
"The alterations to the café at Thrybergh Country Park will enhance the current offer with planned improvements to the kitchen facilities enabling an upgrade to the menu along with an increase in the number of outdoor covers and improved access between the indoor and outdoor dining experience."
Images: RMBC / Kier ? I&G
Securing money from the Government's Levelling Up Fund (LUF), £19.9m was awarded for a number of connected projects which aim to build a new leisure industry that responds to the challenges of economic recovery and health and well-being.
A £2.5m improvement plan for Thrybergh Country Park moved a step closer last year after plans for a new café building were approved by the council.
At Rother Valley Country Park, planning permission has been secured for a £5.5m upgrade - the centrepiece being a new waterfront café.
Contractors were also lined up to carry out the work but a new council report states that, following market testing, both projects required "revised budgets as a result of the impact of inflation and the volatile national and international construction market."
Rotherham Council's cabinet are being asked to approve the new way forward which means that there is a "reduced scope" for the Thrybergh scheme where a new café building has been scrapped and replaced by a refurbished café and outside space.
At Rother Valley, plans for a new build waterfront café and new car park would go ahead, with some aspects, such as a landscaped events space taken out.
The council report states: "This option delivers most closely to the original intentions of the LUF scheme in that it will achieve improvements at both sites, creating impact for residents and delivering the greatest economic benefits and supporting the financial recovery of Rother Valley Country Park. However, this is at a reduced scope to that set out to Cabinet in August 2023 and it comes at an additional cost."
There has been an overall increase in the programme budget of £2.310m.
At Rother Valley, contractors, Kier are set to proceed with construction of the new facilities in September 2024 with completion in October 2025. The tender with I&G Ltd for Thrybergh will not proceed and a new procurement exercise will be required.
The report adds: "Supporting the financial recovery of Rother Valley County Park is seen as a priority for the Leisure & Culture Service with the new build café and events space seen as a critical step in achieving that goal.
"The alterations to the café at Thrybergh Country Park will enhance the current offer with planned improvements to the kitchen facilities enabling an upgrade to the menu along with an increase in the number of outdoor covers and improved access between the indoor and outdoor dining experience."
Images: RMBC / Kier ? I&G
11 comments:
Give em time,Labour will be building houses on it!👎
How about scaling back the number of councilors -that should save a few quid!
It's a shame to hear about this. Perhaps RMBC could have requested to re-direct some of the money from the cycle lane scheme towards covering the shortfall?
I accept my knowledge of Government funding is limited, but it seems completely counter-productive to push forward with something that we don't need and sacrifice a project that could bring about greater community benefits and encourage people to use these important recreational facilities!
Moronic comment as usual from someone who needs no encouragement. L
Well, you've just saved a quid by missing L from your spelling of councillors
You have a serious problem....
An l not an L
Well they've got to build these one and half million new house's somewhere,and if you take time to listen to what as been said,they going to ride over people's objections,in there words hard decisions will be made, basically going to concrete over our green belt..Well you food did vote for this .As for L,well that's exactly what living in this country will become under this government...L!
You obviously missed the posters reference to quid (as in LSD)
As I see it, if they'd have pulled their finger out and got started when the money was awarded they'd have got the jobs done at budget.
But then that wouldn't be Rotherham Council would it.
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