POOLE council have announced a plan to run Poole Park's miniature train in-house with investment of £350K.
In the figures, if one looks closely, are far higher implications.
Interest over 25 years bring us up to £475K. Wages over 25 years will add at least £1.1million. Within the 25 years there'll almost certainly need further track replacement costing, by council figures, £150K.
A total risk to local taxpayers of over £1.7million. There's also absolutely no guarantee that any future income would go back into the park because those decisions would be made in the future by a different, merged authority.
The Friends of Poole Park had forecast income over the lease period of over £3m which would have been available for re-investment directly into the park. Going by first year actual performance that figure was looking conservative.
Add these two figures together and you have the taxpayers of Poole looking at a loss of guaranteed income from The Friends of over £3M and additional cost of £1.7n and you have an exposure to a cost of £5m to run a children's ride.
Why is it our council looks for answers to their financial problems by taking businesses under central control?
MICHAEL COLLINS
Mount Pleasant Road, Poole
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