Tories Condemn Plans for a 'Banqueting Hall'

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£2 million project billed 'a crazy waste of money'

Cllr. Peter Thompson has blasted plans by Hounslow Council to develop a £2 million multi-purpose hall.

The plans for a new banqueting and conference centre in Hounslow recently moved a step closer after Councillors asked for an outline planning application to be submitted. The new facility, to be sited alongside the Civic Centre in a new extension, could be ready for use in late 2006.

The multipurpose hall will provide a new range of facilities and will be available to community groups and business for hire. Social occasions and weddings are also expected to take place in the hall.

Cllr Peter Thompson, the leader of the Conservative group on Hounslow Council, commented, "This so-called 'Multi-Purpose Centre' is really a crazy waste of money. All the time we are told by Hounslow Council that they do not have enough money in the Budget to pay for the necessary improvements to our libraries, schools and old people's centres, and yet they seem to have found £2 million to spend on a centre for, ostensibly, wedding receptions and an annual awards ceremony."

Cllr Darshan Grewal said, "Hounslow has always lacked a large scale multi-use building which could accommodate weddings as easily as business conferences. Currently such facilities are outside the borough, which means Hounslow residents have to spend time and money attending events that could be held here. Now we are moving ahead with plans for such a building I hope that we attract residents from our neighbouring boroughs to come here."

April 6, 2004