Details of Shipston expenditure are released (From Cotswold Journal)

Details of Shipston expenditure are released

10:20am Friday 3rd July 2009

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SHIPSTON people have finally learnt how money earmarked for improvements in their town has been spent.

Shipston town councillors criticised Warwickshire County Council for taking too long to use the money but details have now been released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Gallagher Estates and Pettifer Construction development companies donated about £600,000 to Shipston, in 2001, in return for Stratford District Council giving them planning permission to build hundreds of homes off Station Road.

The money, donated under a section 106 agreement, was given to Warwickshire County Council for investment in education, highways, transport and the town centre.

Of the £71,573 highway contribution, £47,077.66 was spent on extending the 30mph zone in Tilemans Lane and Darlingscote Road, traffic sign improvements, surfacing a footpath between Tilemans Lane and Darlingscote Road and a new gateway sign on Darlingscote Road.

A further highway contribution of £38,539.33 remains unspent as it was allocated for installation of central refuges in Stratford Road and Church Street that were never installed because of safety concerns.

This left £63,034.67 of the highway contribution unspent.

The £24,513.98 town centre contribution will be spent on projects to be completed by November 2011.

Most of the £306,954.23 public transport contribution has been spent, with much of it funding the Shipston-Banbury bus service.

The size of the education contribution has not been revealed but three instalments have been received and a fourth is expected shortly.

This money must be used to fund additional school places generated by the housing development.

Coun Chris Saint, Shipston’s representative on Warwickshire County Council, said a report about the donations was being prepared for presentation to the county council’s area committee this autumn.

He said: “There are relatively small amounts left.

“There is some work being done.

“Three schemes are taking place in the town centre.”

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