Council hails local decorating deal after carpeting

Doncaster Council and its contractor Wates are currently halfway through a £20m project to build new civic offices as part of a wider £300m scheme to provide the town with a “civic and cultural quarter”.

Earlier this month, Paragon, an industrial carpeting firm based in South Yorkshire, told the Yorkshire Post it was disappointed after its products were “not even looked at” for the new office block.

In response, both Wates Construction and Doncaster Council said every effort was made to buy local, and pointed to the painting contract, which went to Doncaster firm, Magill.

David Price, of Wates, said: “It has always been our intention to use this project as a means to boost local commerce and through appointing Doncaster-based companies we are able to do this.

“We are delighted that Magill Painting Contractors Ltd has won this considerable work package and look forward to our ongoing work together as the building continues to take shape.”

Simon Magill, the managing director of Magill, said his company is “extremely proud” to be awarded work on one of the largest developments in Doncaster in recent years. He added: “It will keep a large number of our workforce busy in 2012.

The Mayor of Doncaster, Peter Davies, added: ”I am obviously delighted. There are some major building projects under way in Doncaster so there should be plenty of opportunities coming up in the near future.”

The council and Wates said Paragon, which employs 60 people, had not supplied “all the relevant details” to be considered for the carpeting contract, a fact which is still being disputed by the company’s directors.