WOODFORD GREEN: Centre overdue and over budget

Concerns were raised over the future of Ray Lodge Visitors Centre, in Ray Lodge Park, Woodford Green, after Redbridge Council announced the scheme was now likely to be finished in September, rather than July, as originally planned.

The centre was commissioned to replace the historic Ray Lodge House, which burned down in 2004, and will house the council's park rangers team, and provide a wide range of community educational facilities.

Project manager, Nigel Burch, faced heavy criticism from worried councillors and residents, when he broke news of the delays and projected overspend, at an area two committee meeting, in Woodford Green, on Tuesday.

Bridge ward councillor, Robin Turbefield, demanded an explanation for the spiralling costs.

He said: "This is a very big projected overspend, and I am confused how the costs could have gone so far over what was initially expected.

"It seems strange that we were given one estimate for the budget, and then a few months later it has completely changed.

"We need to be given an explanation for why this has happened."

These views were backed by resident, Ron Wortley-Millek, of Forest Approach, who questioned whether the new centre was actually needed.

He said: "It would be interesting to find out how many people from the local community will actually use this centre."

Mr Burch said the overspend was due to higher than expected construction costs and delays in connecting the site to the electricity grid.

He said: "The prices we were quoted during the tendering process were significantly higher than we expected, and EDF energy have taken weeks to re-wire the site.

"It is regrettable that it's gone over our projected budget and time scales, but we are working hard to make up the time."

Mr Burch said the centre will boast a range of environmentally friendly features, such as a biomass boiler and solar panels, when it is completed.