Easton village's £2.5m community centre cash bid rejected

South Norfolk Council (SNC) has dismissed an appeal for a £500,000 loan to help build a village hall in Easton. 

Shaun Vincent, the former Conservative Broadland Council leader, speaking as a consultant on behalf of the Eaton Parish Council (EPC), called for help to make sure the project was finished. 

But an SNC cabinet meeting heard Easton has already received a substantial amount of cash to help build the community centre. 

Shaun Vincent (Image: Submitted)

Mr Vincent said building costs had risen dramatically since it was unveiled, due to inflation pushing up the price of materials and manpower. 

He said: “This project has come across a few problems, its main contractor went into liquidation which EPC had a fixed price agreement with. It went back to the market at a time when the market was at its peak. 

“SNC signed up and committed to deliver this centre.” 

But John Fuller, leader of SNC, suggested Easton was attempting to “double dip”, having already claimed money from the district. 

John Fuller, leader of South Norfolk Council (Image: © Rose Sapey)

He said: “About £1m of the £1.5m original projected cost has been met by this council. 

“Candidly it seems to me, it makes little sense for us to go to the public works loan board (PWLB) for us to recycle it to the parish council. They could go to the PWLB themselves.”

The PWBL provides loans to public organisations and Mr Fuller said it could respond within a week. 

“The council committed to build a hall, and we did. It was never a blank cheque,” he added. 

“We have made a full contribution to the hall. 

“The idea that we haven’t supported Easton is a nonsense. 

“I find it astonishing that this council is being painted as the bad guys here. We’ve contributed two-thirds of the costs, you’ve got a route to the PWLB. I think you just need to send the email and take it from there.” 

Cabinet rejected the bid.