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THE GOVERNMENT should cap spending on regeneration around the London Olympics, according to Liverpool business leaders, as it emerged costs had already soared.
Exactly one year on from London winning the right to stage the Games in 2012, it has emerged the total cost of the event has already increased by £1.5billion.
Among the extra costs are plans by Government ministers to use the event to accelerate regeneration in large parts of the capital.
But businesses leaders in Liverpool immediately hit out at the spending hike amid concerns that it will derail vital regeneration projects elsewhere across the UK.
“We all support money being spent on creating a world class Games, attracting new visitors and spending not only to London but across the UK,” said Frank McKenna, chairman of Downtown Liverpool in Business.
“What we cannot support, however, is using taxpayers’ money to boost regeneration in one part of the capital ahead of many other deserving areas of the country.
“The message it sends out is that it is OK for London to let the cost of projects soar, but not anywhere else. We all pay our taxes, so we all deserve to see them spent fairly in our communities.”
The news came on the same day that it was announced that Manchester’s Metrolink tram scheme was to be extended further.
“It is staggering that London can increase costs by £1.5billion in 12 months while relatively small cost increases in the Merseytram scheme derailed it altogether.
“The fact that Manchester has now succeeded where Liverpool failed further underlines what can be achieved when a city has a full-time champion working on its behalf.
“At the very least, Liverpool deserves a full-time council leader to do a full-time job, just like in other major cities.
“Without that, we will continue to be treated as the poor relation with money spent freely elsewhere but not here.”
Note to editors
For more information, or to arrange an interview with Frank McKenna, call Chris Marritt at Mason Media on 0151 707 4514 or 07908 214950.
