Remember this Press Release?
THEN:
Press Release from Council Leader Julia Potts, 5th Sept 2016, celebrating works on the extension to Farnham’s Memorial Hall completing in September 2017!
“The Memorial Hall is an incredible tribute to Farnham’s history and the council is committed to enhancing the space for all. The plaque commemorating those in the community who sacrificed their lives during the First World War has been safely removed and will be reinstated into the new (sic) refurbished hall when it reopens in September 2017.”
Now:
Waverley Press Release 14th March 2018 :
Delays to Memorial Hall opening
The opening of the Memorial Hall is to be delayed following recent weather conditions impacting on the project timetable.
The project was already behind schedule, due to difficulties in procuring the right materials for the build last year. Unfortunately, the council is now faced with considerable delays to the Farnham Memorial Hall refurbishment.
To fully understand what is required to finish the refurbishment the council commissioned an independent survey. The survey has highlighted that, due to the poor weather conditions, a considerable amount of remedial work is also required. This is in addition to the work required to complete the project.
Councillor Jenny Else, Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, said:
”I cannot express how disappointed and upset I am that the project is not only much further behind than we expected, but also requires a lot of additional work to rectify damage that has been caused by the weather. I am concerned that this is only going to worsen due to the heavy rainfall that has been forecast for the coming weeks.
“This will also come as a disappointment to the services and the people that will be based in the hall when it is finished. We have informed them of the situation and will continue to provide them with the support they need during this frustrating time.
“We are now considering how to move forward. Sadly we cannot give a revised estimate about when the hall will be open until our consultant and the contractors have identified what remedial work is required.”
Such incompetence would have lost the First World War. The delay is an insult to those who selflessly sacrificed so much for so many some of whom now forget.
How right you are. The fallen must e spinning in their graves to see a Memorial in their memory used to generate income for developers, and for uses, that it was never intended.
Delays due to inclement weather? Incompetence more like, yet they found money for an independent report, over priced consultants when any one of us could have put a foot outside and told them it is raining/snowing!! The delay in procuring building materials is no excuse, this project has been around for a number of years and it was known what was needed, they should have been ordered and stored long before the start date, as I say incompetence.