Jessopp & Hooper in spat re over-budget projects

Thu, 03 Aug 2023

Braddan Commissioner, Andrew Jessopp has questioned who will be funding the new Liverpool landing station.

This was in response to comments Lawrie Hooper MHK made online regarding the new Braddan facility, ‘The Roundhouse’.

Jessopp said: “I wonder whether Mr Hooper can assure the ratepayers that the cost of the ill-conceived Liverpool half-tide dock project, which has clearly 'gone wrong', will not be passed on to them by central government in the form of yet more 'transferred services' (read costs) to the local authorities.”

Last week, Hooper tweeted “It was a Braddan Commissioners decision to build this thing, it shouldn’t be up to the taxpayer to bail them out because it’s gone wrong”.

Jessopp told Energy FM: “It has been brought to my attention that Ramsey MHK, Lawrie Hooper has apparently tweeted a comment about the Braddan Commissioners' new Roundhouse community centre project and the rise in the cost of the project.

Jessopp: “He appears worried that the project has 'gone wrong' and that the Commissioners could be seeking a bail-out from the taxpayer.

“Well, I can categorically assure Mr Hooper that the project has not 'gone wrong' and the Commissioners have no intention of seeking a bail-out from the taxpayers; although some financial support, however small, from government for a project that will offer benefits to the wider community and not just Braddan, would have been greatly appreciated.

However Braddan Ratepayers may see a 20% increase in their rates, if Government does not assist with the additional funding.

“On the other hand, I wonder whether Mr Hooper can assure the ratepayers that the cost of the ill-conceived Liverpool half-tide dock project, which has clearly 'gone wrong', will not be passed on to them by central government in the form of yet more 'transferred services' (read costs) to the local authorities.”

 

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