Council's £68k on design-consultant work 'a big waste'

THE council has been accused of wasting money after paying £68,000 to street furniture design consultants - then placing planters 'in the same location' as the old ones.

- BY ALEX SCAPENS

A Cheshire East project has seen the floral display holders installed on Mill Street and Chestergate, in Macclesfield town centre.

The 21 planters themselves cost £21,100 and then consultants who planned the redesign and layout were paid another £67,854, a total bill of £88,954.

But Richard Slater, owner of nearby Henbury Travel, says that much of this was needless expenditure as although the planters are new - their position has not changed.

The council says the £68,000 was for the design of a town centre project that includes other elements, including seating, bins and lighting across Chestergate, Mill Street, Market Place, and parts of Exchange Street and Churchill Way.

But Mr Slater has seen little that warrants this, pointing out that, for instance, benches have merely been replaced in situ.