A local leisure complex is undergoing major refurbishment works, and the widely anticipated Riverside Ice & Leisure Centre is allegedly the most expensive in the country as costs rocket by more than 40 per cent from £25 million to more than £35 million.
But now Chelmsford City Council, which is funding the major revamp, has admitted costs of up to £4 million, or 11 per cent, could be claimed by the contractor in respect of groundworks, asbestos removal, steelwork and cladding, a significant proportion of which may be valid.
Back in July, the Council approved the overall schemes cost of £35.216 million – £10 million more than it had been initially predicted to cost.
An additional £250k was approved by the Council in February of 2018 for the cafe fit out.
Stephen Robinson, a Chelmsford Lib Dem councillor says ”We have expressed concerns at the outset about the rising costs”
”The original cost of £25 million rose to £35.2 million, and now it looks like another £4 million has got to be found.
”It was already the most expensive leisure centre in the country and now it’s adding to it”.
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