Chilterns Lifestyle Centre: Parking space work slammed as 'wasting money'

The puzzled resident has questioned why contractors are working on new car parking spots whilst nearby car parking spaces are being filled in with green areas.

Amersham resident, Patrick Carroll believes the council are “wasting” money with the works when there are already “perfectly good” parking spaces in the area.

Clive Harriss, the cabinet member for culture and leisure, admitted he understood the view as a “common sense” solution to a casual observer but that the council are delivering plans which took years to agree.

Patrick said: “As residents of Amersham will have seen, Bucks Council's Contractor BAM has been progressing well with the extended car parking at Chilterns Lifestyle Centre, including the very welcome areas of soft landscaping with grassed areas, shrubs and trees.

“Unfortunately, one of these locations, which will probably go unnoticed by most people, is a classic case of the council wasting our money, simply due to lack of proper planning, and inaction."

The dug up area

“If you look at one of the photos, you will see what was 10 perfectly good tarmac parking spaces, which BAM have dug up to turn it into a grassed area, in accordance with the Council's plans.

“This sounds nice, but unfortunately, just a few metres away is an existing grassed area of an equivalent size, shown in the other photo, which BAM are about to dig up to create just 8 parking spaces!"

Patrick claims that this was pointed out to Buckinghamshire Council before the works started.

“Can you believe this - they are spending our money digging up 10 existing parking spaces to grass them over, then digging up an adjacent grassed area to create 2 spaces less!

“This was pointed out to the Council well in advance of the work starting, and all they had to do was to pause that section of work whilst the legals and paperwork were sorted out, and saved a reasonable amount, but no, they just sat back and spent our money needlessly.

“Those responsible for this in the Council should be made to pay for this work themselves!."

The green space already in the area

Clive Harriss responded by saying the plans have been made over many years and are "mindful" of keeping costs to a minimum.

He said: “The Chilterns Lifestyle Centre development has involved a lengthy and complex process of consultation, planning, and legal agreements with a number of partners over many years.

“With any project of this scale, there are numerous agreements negotiated, the outcome of which don’t come to light until the project is close to completion.

“As a conscientious council we are mindful of the need to keep costs to a minimum and avoid unnecessary overspending.

“In this instance, the option to proceed in the way we are doing reflects those agreements which are further reaching than they may first appear.

“I can understand the view of the casual observer as a “common sense” solution; but we are delivering what took considerable time to agree.

“The work completed to date and these last works represent the facility promised in our planning proposal which was approved at committee.

“This is what will be delivered, with project completion scheduled for November 2022, on behalf of the local community and avoids incurring substantial, delays and additional legal fees.”