MORE MORLANDS MISERY

The Morlands site at Glastonbury is still empty after years of waiting.

The thirty-four acre site was bought by the government quango the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) eight years ago. So far nearly twenty million pounds of public money has been spent on it. But as yet not a brick has been laid.

Ken Maddock, Leader of Somerset Conservatives said, "This is a public disgrace. We have received promise after promise from the SWRDA, but they always let us down. They have missed the boom and now the recession can only make things more difficult. This site should be providing local jobs now. We say give us the money and we’ll finish the job."

David Heathcoat-Amory, the local MP, commented, "The empty Morlands site is now a public scandal. The SW Regional Development Agency has spent over £20 million on it over eight years with nothing to show, and all their promises broken. It needs a change of government and a change of control at County Hall to get things moving.''

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For more information: contact Councillor Ken Maddock, Leader of Somerset County Council's Conservative Group, 01458 850906, or David Heathcoat-Amory, MP for Wells, office@davidheathcoatamory.com 01749 673146.

Notes to Editors:

Nicholas Soames, MP, will be appearing for photographs at the Morlands Site tomorrow (Friday 24th April) at 1500 to highlight the ongoing plight of the site.

The attached picture shows local Conservatives showing the Morlands site to Eric Pickles MP, Chairman of the Conservative Party.

Ref: 23Apr09