Council on carpet for not buying locally

Doncaster Council is currently part way through its £300m civic and cultural quarter project, which will provide a new council headquarters, a public square and a new performance venue.

The new council offices were recently the focus of a “topping out” ceremony and contractors Wates have now turned to the internal fit out, but have been criticised by industrial carpet firm Paragon.

David Rhodes, the managing director of the firm, which has its base half an hour away from Doncaster town centre in Manvers, said: “We are very disappointed the council isn’t buying local.

“We recently carried out a contract to carpet Rotherham Council’s new civic centre, and they were very pleased, but Doncaster Council and its contractors won’t even look at our product.

“Buying from an American firm means public money will not to a local firm which provides 60 jobs and pays business rates.”

English Democrat mayor Peter Davies, whose slogan is Putting The English First, said he had “pushed hard” for local suppliers to be used on the project.

Wates said it was “committed to awarding work locally” but claimed Paragon had “not supplied all the necessary details to be considered for the contract”.