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Town plans hit by cost-cutting
AMBITIOUS plans for Matlock's Crown Square have been cut back following a shortfall in funds.
Derbyshire Dales District Council approved a planning application for the town centre junction at a meeting earlier this month but have now admitted the scheme will have to be altered in a bid to save money.
The council risk losing a 500,000 grant from Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership which will pay for part of the scheme if work is not started by next month.
The 1.2m scheme put forward last year has now been reworked and officers estimate the current plans will cost 979,253.
In order to keep the cost within the budget of 982,000, work beyond the pedestrian crossings on Causeway Lane and Bakewell Road has been reduced. Officers say the stone paving will not be extended as far as originally hoped, saving the council 45,000.
Planning and development service director at the district council, Dave Brooks, said: "The initial estimate was around 1.2million."We have subsequently drawn up the scheme and got consent and gone out to tender and we have actually been able to go out to tender at a very good time.
"While we are having to cut back slightly on the scheme with the available budget, we are still able to deliver a really good scheme for Matlock."
Sainsbury's is contributing 432,000 to the development. The county and district council is providing the rest.
Mr Brooks added: "We were looking to supplement the money provided to bring it up to the 1.2million estimate but we are not able to find any other money. However we have benefited as this is a very good time to be seeking tenders."
Some work on the project will take place next month but the bulk of the work is set to begin after Easter, to avoid delaying holiday traffic. The scheme is set to be completed by the end of July.
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Weather for Chesterfield
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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