At long last, the ex-Keighley councillor and ex-deputy chairman of the finance committee of Keighley Town Council has admitted she was fully aware the Civic Centre was to be financially encumbered when she was part of a team at KTC that bought the old police station – ‘There’s a covenant on centre which severely restricts its use’ (Keighley News, February 27).
As far as I am aware, I cannot find any warning of this issue in transcripts or minutes given to councillors at any time that stated such restrictions would in any way inhibit any future sale of the building. Is the ex-deputy chairman of finance now saying nobody warned her and the committee of such a danger, and did no other committee member suggest a more robust investigation should be undertaken because of such topics?
Although I am led to believe the covenant can be lifted, at this point, and the building can be put on the market, my main concern is, as it always was, the ongoing debt and deficit Keighley parishioners will have to find.
Mrs Newton, who supported this project, should now take responsibility for her vote, for the loan of more than £1 million and the ongoing deficit, as this project was promised to be self-financing, without any precept increase to support it.
Councillor Ron Beale
Ridgemount Road, Riddlesden
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