Doncaster Sheffield Airport has worrying echoes of failed Scarborough vanity project: Yorkshire Post Letters

That North Yorkshire Council is having to write off £7million plus in relation to the failed Alparmare Waterpark project (scandal) in Scarborough might raise a few questions for the good citizens of South Yorkshire, who may soon bear a debt of hundreds of millions for the new vanity project formerly known as Robin Hood airport – otherwise known as Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

The alarming reports of The Yorkshire Post on that project (and I would suggest another looming scandal) has reminded me of our own Scarborian experience of dealing with officers who convince themselves, and then their elected members that despite risk reports, everything will go swimmingly and that the best case scenario will be magically exceeded beyond all expectations.

In Scarborough, the now defunct borough council held a special, unprecedented council meeting to hear directly from the developer how the waterpark would be a surefire bet.

It became difficult to gainsay the pressure members faced not to deny the developer’s case.

It felt to do so would be like denying that Scarborough had any future as a tourist destination. At least the Labour Group, of which I was a member at the time rejected the plan. Some of those who supported it are now of course ensconced in North Yorkshire’s regime.

That leads me to another lesson with earlier precedents, warning how elected members could be sent barking up the wrong tree.

It is reported that Scarborough’s town hall, now half empty it seems, may be disposed of and remaining staff working for North Yorkshire relocated to an office block out of town, on the market for around £4.5 million.

This the council says contrasts with their estimate of renovating the town hall at a cost of £19 million. I wonder who checks North Yorkshire Council’s cost estimates? The latter figure is clearly such an exaggeration it beggars belief that any officer could present it with a straight face. But which councillors have the expertise to challenge their officers?

Thankfully, (I hope) no North Yorkshire Council Tax (or income tax) payer will be asked to contribute a single penny to the vanity project which is the doomed Robin Hood airport relaunch.

But from my experience the term ’due diligence’ will be bandied about and elected members face being bamboozled into supporting a very high-risk venture.

When it goes belly up those responsible will be nowhere to be seen.