Issue - meetings

Decision:

That the Foxenden Tunnels be mothballed, subject to undertaking annual inspections to ensure its continuing safety, and that the position be reviewed in three years’ time.

Reason:

The decision was based on a financial analysis of the cost of repairs, the likely rental income and potential loss of income from parking to provide safe access to support a commercial letting.

Other options considered and rejected by the Committee

1.       Increase the existing budget by a further £190,000 to enable the repair work as originally envisaged to be undertaken.

2.       Increase the existing budget by a further £120,000 to enable the bare minimum repair work to be implemented but without the potential for further use.

3.       To make a review of the position in five years’ time.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Chairman or members of the Committee and any dispensation granted:

None.

Foxenden Tunnels was a large World War II air raid shelter located beneath Allen House Grounds and accessed from the lowest level of the adjacent York Road multi-storey car park. Having been sealed up for many years the steel structure had deteriorated and had become unsafe. A future plan for the Tunnels was sought.

A capital budget of £110,000 for repairs had been approved in 2019 but following specification and tendering in respect of the required works, was found to be an inadequate sum. As a result of the repair work being more complicated than originally foreseen and the delays to addressing the matter due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost to implement all of the work was now in excess of £300,000.

The Committee sought to clarify the quoted costs in the report with regard to the loss of opportunity for income from the parking spaces which would need to be given up should a regular access to the Tunnels be required and the costs of the annual inspection. Whilst there was no officer present to corroborate the parking income figures, the meeting heard that the cost of the surveyors’ inspections must include the provision of lighting and ventilation to the network of tunnels which did increase the cost significantly.

The Committee was minded to amend the timescale in respect of the review of the decision from the recommended five years to a shorter period of three years in the event that the Council was in a different financial position.

The Committee therefore

RESOLVED: That the Foxenden Tunnels be mothballed, subject to undertaking annual inspections to ensure its continuing safety, and that the position be reviewed in three years’ time.

Reason:

The decision was based on a financial analysis of the cost of repairs, the likely rental income and potential loss of income from parking to provide safe access to support a commercial letting.