11:30am Friday 28th May 2010
By Alex Hayes
FUNDING for a combined library, health and community centre in Brunswick Park could be at risk unless the council and health trust push the plans forward more quickly.
The plans for the new Hub centre in the park were awarded a £6.5m Government grant last year, but some of the cash could be withdrawn if the building is not completed by September 2011.
However to do this, Barnet Council and NHS Barnet need to start building at the site in Osidge Lane by August 20 this year.
Senior councillors on the cabinet resources committee were told the only way this could be achieved was through a local improvement finance trust (LIFT), so NHS Barnet can secure funding.
An officer told them: “We need to commit to a contract with a contractor soon so we are at the point when planning permission has been approved to demonstrate we can deliver the scheme on time.
“We're completely dependent on the £6.5m grant. If it's withdrawn, the scheme can't proceed.”
The first phase of the plans, shown to residents in March, will see the library, children's centre, nursery and health centre built, with a swimming pool, gym and youth centre.
Councillor Brian Coleman raised concerns about plans to perform a land swap, with new buildings being put up on existing parkland, which would be replaced when the old buildings are demolished.
He said: “The public haven't seen the planning application yet. We haven't had the objections from the usual suspects.
“I've never seen a land swap be done in such a short space of time.”
However, the committee agreed to push the plans forward to prevent the possibility of losing the Government cash.
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