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Red tape puts jobs at risk

Government red tape is being blamed for putting the creation of hundred of new jobs at risk.

Developers say a multi-million pound project in County Durham is being delayed at a time when the area is being hit hard by the recession.

The £45million scheme at Tindale Crescent in Bishop Auckland would result in a shopping and leisure complex and a new stadium for Bishop Auckland FC.

But developers Terrace Hill fear the whole scheme is threatened because of a wait for government approval. The plans were passed by Wear Valley district council in November with the hope that approval from Government Office North East would follow within weeks.

The development could create 800 jobs with a further 200 being created in the supply chain.

Terrace Hill director Duncan McEwan said: “The country is in recession and I find it difficult to understand why this application, which was carefully scrutinised by the local council and independent consultants is now being delayed by the very people charged with enhancing local economic conditions and promoting the regeneration of the region.

“Given the current economic climate and the short-term outlook this is likely to be one of the biggest regeneration and employment opportunities in the North East this year.”

Terrace Hill also fears that the football club will lose a grant from the Football Stadium Improvement Fund unless work starts before June.

Club chairman Terry Jackson said: “If we lose the grant money, it will create a vast hole in the budget for the new ground.”

A spokesman for Government Office North East said that they asked the council for more information at the end of December and that was passed to them late last month. The application has now been handed to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .