Renovation work on Baths Hall in Scunthorpe has been given the go-ahead, despite complaints that the £15 million expense cannot be justified.
The local Conservative opposition argued that the expense could not be justified in the current economic climate and proposed a different scheme that would cut the cost in half to £6 million. They claimed that the cheaper plan would nevertheless provide catering and parking facilities that would be superior to the scheme in progress. The argument was eventually over-ruled by North Lincolnshire Council, paving the way for the completion of a venue which will include a cafe, bar and conference facilities.
Mark Kirk, council leader, told the BBC: "The Baths Hall will be built. Council tax payers said they wanted an entertainment centre - we are going to deliver."
Advocates of the cheaper scheme pointed out that the council had not clarified how much of the £15 million spend would have to be met by taxpayers. Mr Kirk said he was unable to reveal detailed plans of how the money would be spent.
In other news, thisisscunthorpe.co.uk recently announced that £50 million will be spent on regenerating the town centre, in line with Birmingham and London venues.
(Related categories of interest see London Venues, Birmingham Venues also Conference Facility.)
