A FORMER councillor has hit out at Colchester Council’s delay of choosing a contractor to build a community centre claiming it has resulted in the price of the project going up by more than £1 million.

Former Highwoods councillor Gerard Oxford had supported plans to build a new community centre in the area after securing £1.8 million funding for the project, alongside his wife, Beverley.

Mr Oxford said the couple had been working on the project for eight years helping to secure the planning permission just before Christmas in 2021.

Amphora, part of Colchester Commercial Holdings Ltd, which is run by Colchester Council, put the project out to tender in May 2022.

But Mr Oxford says delays in making a decision has seen the cost of the project soar as inflation has risen.

He says he asked the four building firms considering trying to secure the contract how much the delay had cost.

They informed him in the four month delay between July, when the prices were given, and November, when he asked about the increase, the price had risen by £500,000, with the price rising by £100,000 every following month.

Mr Oxford said: “We are disappointed the delays by council’s own company has put this project in severe doubt but more importantly cost the taxpayer a lot of money.

“I have put out some feelers and I am now told that if the same design scheme was to go out to tender now, it would come back in a tender price in excess of £3 million.”

A Colchester Council spokesman said: “We remain committed to an exciting new community facility in Highwoods and have capital funds allocated in our budget towards the project, in addition to exploring all the S106 funding opportunities that are available.

“The original plan was halted, shortly after the tender process, because the figures were markedly higher than our allocated budget and as part of a wider pause on all future projects given high inflation and a significant budget gap. 

“It is important we consider all options as we continue to manage a tough economic climate and intense pressure on resources so further consideration can be given to making the best decision possible.

“Work on the wider capital projects review continues, including the community centre.  An options paper is set to be discussed by our leadership team in the coming weeks.”