Toilet claim over design

Friday 22nd August 2008, 8:30PM BST.

wd2993961feature-1-rh-22.jpgRugeley town centre would have a centrepiece water feature that resembles an “underground toilet” unless extra cash is ploughed into the scheme, a senior councillor has claimed.

The idea to spruce up Brook Square with an attractive water feature came after a 200-year-old underground culvert collapsed in March threatening the cenotaph. 

Engineers started work strengthening ground around the culvert as district council bosses decide on whether  to fund a new focal point for the square.

At a cabinet meeting members poured scorn on a Staffordshire County Council design – to be paid for with £150,000 insurance money from the collapse.

The county says it will repair the culvert and fence it off but the district council must pay for landscaping or an elaborate water feature.

Cannock Chase Council cabinet member Councillor Mick Grocott, who represents Western Springs ward, said: “It looks like the entrance to an underground toilet or an air raid bunker.

“It would give Rugeley town centre a worse look than it has already got at the moment, which looks like a building site.”

Councillor Phil Freeman said: “If this goes to planning control, it will be thrown out straight away. It is totally out of character in a conservation area.”

And Councillor Danny Davies said: “It looks like a giant flower bed without the flowers. It is horrible.”

Council leader Councillor Neil Stanley said: “We want something to enhance the town, not something that looks like the entrance to a public toilet. This design would degrade Rugeley town centre . We will look at the possibility of using section 106 funding from developers to see if we can come up with something infinitely better than this.”

The councils will talk about how much is needed for an acceptable design.



Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Read the full story here Read the full story here

Full coverage of awards celebrating the region's best businesses.

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

LIVE traffic updates

Road, rail and airport - latest Road, rail and airport - latest

Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.