Our council is BANKRUPT after wasting billions on doomed projects, living walls & odd statues… that’s not the worst part | The Sun
SUSPENDED in a cherry picker above Wolsey Place’s shopping centre, two workers tend to a ‘living wall’ stretching across the balconies of a block of flats.
It's the only way to water the elaborate display of 9,700 trailing plants – dubbed the ‘Hanging Gardens of Woking’ by locals – designed to rejuvenate the 1960s social housing block.
It’s one of many “ridiculous” redevelopment projects which residents claim is a contributing factor to the council effectively going bankrupt, after amassing debts of up to £2billion and a deficit of more than £1bn.
Woking Borough Council was reportedly warned four years ago about its “off the scale” level of debt during a Local Government Association peer review, which stated its borrowing was “atypical amongst district councils”.
It ploughed money into risky investments including commercial properties and sky-scraper buildings, jokingly referred to as its bid to become the 'Singapore of Surrey'.
Last week the council – now run by the Liberal Democrats after the Conservative administration was voted out in last year’s local borough elections – was served a Section 114 notice, putting a stop to all new spending.
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Woking Borough Council’s Chief Executive Julie Fisher said: “The issuing… of a Section 114 notice is a very serious matter that rightly reflects the scale and breadth of the acute financial situation facing the Council.”
On hearing the news the council will no longer manage its own finances, and that central government is now in control of spending and essential services, the mood in the town is one of anger and disbelief.
Many locals fear the worst is yet to come, as they're terrified they’ll be the ones expected to cover the costs.
John Johnson, 43, an account manager who is currently unemployed tells us: “They built things we didn't need and paid over the odds for them. It's disgusting."
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15Egle, who didn't want to be photographed or give her surname, admits she’s “very worried” about living in Woking in the future.
“I have two small children and fear the council tax costs will now go through the roof,” she says.
“I'm struggling with bills as it is and the news about the council debt is terrifying."
Egle’s flat looks out on a site that was planned to be a road widening project – but she doubts it will “ever be completed now”.
"They pulled down the buildings over the road and some shops for the scheme, but now there is half a row of shops which are empty and a demolition site for me to look out on,” she says.
I have two small children and fear the council tax costs will now go through the roof
Daniel Knutt, 44, a logistics advisor, is another resident furious about the proposed road widening scheme.
He says: "There was a great traditional chippy in the row of shops near the railway bridge.
“The council put a Compulsory Purchase Order on it, along with the other properties.
"It was a ridiculous idea because it is less than 100 yards from the railway bridge, which in itself is very narrow, meaning all traffic converges into one lane each way to go under it.
“What a joke and a total waste of money. Now we have a building site and half a row of abandoned shops – and I've lost a great chippy!"
'Disgrace'
One of the most expensive projects was the Victoria Square redevelopment in Woking town centre, originally estimated to cost £150million – but delays, the pandemic and construction issues reportedly saw that rise to £750m.
Part of that was building a new 23-storey Hilton hotel, but costly problems with its cladding mean it's still not finished.
In the newly renovated Victoria Place Shopping Centre, numerous shops lie empty and locals have branded it "a waste of council tax payers’ money".
New mum Lucy Burton, 36, said: “The shopping centre has boring shops and those that are there don't stay long due to high costs."
In front of the shopping centre is a large open area which some residents tell us they regard as “a waste of space”.
The shopping centre has boring shops and those that are there don't stay long due to high costs
Lifelong resident Brent Palmer, 56, a former plasterer who’s now retired due to ill health, slammed the council’s overspending and poor investment choices.
He criticised its decision to buy a series of ‘larger-than-life' human sculptures – originally part of a temporary art exhibition. One sculpture, called The Wanderer, depicts a dishevelled man standing outside the train station.
"The council are a disgrace spending taxpayers' money on ridiculous projects,” Brent rages.
"There are a number of silly statues. No one likes them and they cost around £25,000 each.
“We've even got the 'Hanging Gardens of Woking' in the town centre which can only be watered and attended to by closing off part of the shopping centre before putting workers up in a fixed cherry picker.
“I hate to think how much that costs."
Brent is particularly angry as he claims the council-owned flats he lives in, on the Sheerwater estate, are in dire need of renovation.
He says the water pipes are old and made of lead, while the ceilings need work to help with support and sound proofing.
"The council has pulled down some of the blocks and were going to build new ones, but now they have run out of money and nothing is going to get done to improve my block or rebuild on the site that's been demolished," he says.
The council put up two huge tower blocks – the tallest outside central London – to house people who might commute from the town into London.
But with the rise of working from home they don’t seem to have proved popular, with shops underneath yet to be let.
'Shortage'
Estate agent Andy Gearing, 40, warns there is a shortage of affordable housing, which he claims is pushing some local people out.
Meanwhile Donnee McGuire, 32, the company director of a family-run business, says a rise in rates and rent charged by the council is "forcing her business out of the town".
“On top of the cost of living crisis, it's another blow for small businesses like ours," she says.
"The council wasted money building loads of car parks which are not needed as people don't come into town as often as they did due to a lack of decent shops.
We've got the 'Hanging Gardens of Woking' in the town centre which can only be watered and attended to by closing off part of the shopping centre before putting workers up in a fixed cherry picker. I hate to think how much that costs
“Those shops that are there don't stay long because of lack of footfall, high rents and rates."
Sally Levett, 93, who has lived in Woking since 1957, says she wants to see more affordable housing for the younger generation.
"My children and grandchildren have been forced out of Woking as it's now unaffordable for them,” she says.
“The council should have spent our money better by providing more social housing."
Residents also claim they’ve noticed some services are not being carried out as they used to be – if at all.
Lucy Burton pays £40 per month for ground maintenance outside her flat, but claims the grass and hedges are overgrown because no one’s come to cut it.
Pensioner Mohammed Iqben, 80, adds: "I struggle to pay my council tax which is £225 per month, and now the council want me to pay extra to get the grass cut outside my place.
“I can't afford it and I am worried that they will put up my council tax again. Woking council is terrible. They don't care for their residents, they just like spending money."
The local Conservative group previously apologised for “not ensuring that a more robust financial platform was in place” to protect the council from “global challenges”.
A representative for Woking Council told The Sun: "Since the pandemic saw town centre visitor numbers reduce nationally, visitors to Woking Town Centre have steadily increased.
"Whilst not at pre-pandemic levels, we are confident that Woking’s retail, leisure and hospitality mix will continue to encourage shoppers and visitors to return. We believe the turnover of retail units is comparable with other towns of our size.
"The Victoria Arch road widening scheme aims to replace the ageing railway bridge and associated works. The scheme was paused in July 2022 to allow a fundamental review that includes consideration of alternative delivery options and reduced costs."
Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, Leader of Woking Borough Council, said: “We understand that this is a very worrying and unsettling time for residents.
"For now it is very much business as usual for everyday council services. Your bins will still be collected, council rents should be paid, housing repairs done and planning applications decided.
"There will however be changes in the future. We will need to make difficult decisions about how we deliver services for local people working with a wide range of partners, including the voluntary sector across Woking.
"We will treat everybody fairly, ask for input and inform everyone as we travel this challenging road.”
In a statement previously issued by the new Lib Dem administration on June 7, Cllr Barker said she is keen to "work with other parties" to navigate the challenging times ahead.
Cllr Barker said: “My administration has been very clear about the huge financial challenges facing the council due to the legacy of inherited debt.
“The Notice makes clear the true scale of these challenges which are so significant that the Council cannot simply deal with them on its own.
“We must work in partnership with the whole of government and its agencies to support us in delivering a robust Improvement and Recovery Plan.
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“I understand the concerns and questions this will raise, and I am committed to maintaining transparency with residents and partners as we progress through this unsettling time.
“Difficult decisions will lie ahead as we seek to balance the Council’s budget and address the unaffordable debt.”
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