The previous Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council has expressed his deep concern and worry over lack of any progress to finalise £20 million funding arrangements to stabilize the Gorge in Ironbridge despite a unique government offer to fund 60% of the desperately needed works last May.
So far £15 million has been spent on stage one to save the Gorge from collapse at the Lloyds, but since completion no more work has been done and the Gorge, which is geologically very young, remains in danger of collapse potentially blocking the river.
A motion calling on the Labour Council to conclude funding arrangements will be put to Thursday’s Full Council Meeting by Cllr. Clive Mollett and seconded by Cllr. E Carter.
Cllr Eade said “We allocated several million pounds to complete stage one of the gorges stabilization which was in real danger of collapse and then met a succession of European officials, senior civil servants and Ministers from the previous government before negotiating an unique offer of 60% as long ago as lat May from Bob Neil, the current Local Government Minister, who secured this treasury commitment for us.”
“We are somewhat stunned and aghast to learn that no further progress has been made over the past 9 months to either put the funding in place or make any provision in the council’s budget whatsoever to get on with this desperately needed work as soon as possible.”
I cannot stress enough the high chance of a collapse happening at any time that could even flood the river valley and warn the Labour Administration that ignoring this danger, which is part of a World heritage Site, is a clear and dangerous dereliction of their responsibilities.”