TAXPAYERS’ money is being wasted on “pointless” consultations, it has been claimed.

In an angry letter to council leader Chris Robbins, from Adrian Stannard, of the Waltham Forest Civic Society, questions why yet more consultants have been hired to look at the redevlopment of Walthamstow town centre.

A previous consultation on the area by the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment cost taxpayers £30,000, but the findings have yet to form part of any firm plans.

A £55,000 consultation by BDP Urbanism on the possible use of land around the Town Hall in Forest Road, Walthamstow, has also not contributed to formal development guidelines.

The council insist progress was thwarted by the economic downturn, but now Maccreanor Lavington and Gort Scott has been commissioned to carry out a further consultation and has invited groups to take part.

The council is yet to reveal how much the company is being paid.

The prompted the civic society’s impassioned challenge to the wisdom getting involved in “an excuse to pass the buck”.

Mr Stannard wrote: “You now expect us to waste more of our time playing the same game with another lot of consultants for the town centre at further cost.

“Why should we bother? Surely all the reports that have been and gone over the last 15 years for the town centre tells you what developers want.

“Instead of wasting more of our money why don't you get the residents together with the developers so we can agree a way forward.

“Consultants are merely an excuse (a) not to make a decision or (b) an excuse to pass the buck (c) cost a lot of money.”

A Waltham Forest Council spokesman said the Prince’s Foundation report will be used to guide development in central Walthamstow and an action plan is being developed.

The development of the Town Hall area was also put on hold when an anticipated £80 million redevelopment of Waltham Forest College was scrapped.

But he insisted the consultation will contribute to future proposals.

The spokesman added: “As with every other borough in the country the opportunities for redevelopment were thrown into disarray by the economic downturn.

“However we are looking at new and innovative ways of delivering key regeneration projects across Waltham Forest.”