As part of the Pan development there has always been the Council's intention to provide an information point for Islanders once it actually got started. Traditional large scale noticeboards apparently come in at phenomonal costs - £40k for 3 was mentioned last summer. So when we were told about Pods - aka 'Flexible Community Spaces' - last summer, at a cost of £60k, many of us applauded the different thinking. Pods are effectively temporary buildings that you can do whatever you want with. Many of us thought one on Pan would be a great attraction.....and a great information and consultation point.
Sadly costs as originally floated began to spiral before the scheme had even commenced - to anything between £90k and £120k. As the Pan councillor I felt I could no longer support this (I'm not that daft!) and said so repeatedly from the start of this year - particularly at PNP Board meetings where I secured overwhelming support from the Resident Board members.
However, it seems that No is not being understood. PNP Board is now being press-ganged into continuing to consider the Pod proposals. I have called for an urgent Board meeting next week so that we can nail this once and for all. If the Council wants to spend £90k + on this, they can do it without tainting PNP Board members. Better that they did a wider residents consultation.
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