Steve Goodman is back with this week’s Golden Pothole and his concern about the proposed roads PFI. In his own words. Ed
In addition to being the highway supremo for our council, Edward Giles is also responsible for my choice of this week’s Golden Pothole in Sea Street Newport.
It is both easily visible to those making their way from County Hall, and one of the three he indignantly referred to last April in the County Press (which, unlike VB, failed to print my reply).
Mixed messages clarified
On Monday evening in response to my question, he did at least say that contrary to the council’s statement on March 24th, the lucky PFI contractor will not take on the statutory role of the highway authority.
We must hope that was an indication of our council moving towards a better understanding of what they are determined to commit us to under a complex 25 year contract, of a type recently described as no longer suitable for funding projects because of the spiralling costs of repayment over decades.
And this is at a time when they insist that in the current financial climate every penny counts, and that they are compelled to impose drastic spending cuts, resulting in the devastating loss of island services and jobs.
Is our money safe in their hands?
They now wish to convince us that our money is safe in their hands; that may be difficult.
The allocated cost of simply setting up the proposed change to our method of road maintenance has now risen from its original half a million pounds in 2006, to over £7.6 million.
More than £3.7 million of that is for external consultants, and £33,000 was allocated to “venues/refreshments etc.” such as the £4,000+ party at the Royal Yacht Squadron‘s comfortable castle at Cowes for the bidders wanting our business.
No room for alternative view
Those of us actually paying for this, have surprisingly, not been invited by our big spenders to such luxurious premises during this week’s charm offensive, and no expensive drinks and nibbles were offered to sustain us during the presentation.
Nor were we allowed to hear alternative proposals from anyone suggesting that such a 25 year commitment to the unknown is now recognised elsewhere as something to be given a wide berth, because the island Alliance offer of participating in something that would have been closer to meaningful debate was refused.
Fortunately, the council has not yet forbidden questions.
