Vote of no confidence triggered at Sutton Bridge Parish Council meeting amid new pavilion plan controversy

A vote of no confidence in plans for a new village pavilion was triggered on a night when a key figure in the project failed to turn up.

At Sutton Bridge Parish Council’s annual assembly on Tuesday, divisive proposals to build a new pavilion behind the Curlew Centre in Sutton Bridge were the main topic of discussion.

The council has set up a committee, chaired by Cllr Chris Brewis, to spearhead a new build behind its current facilities at Memorial Park, off Bridge Street.

It says this would provide “excellent and much-needed updated facilities” for the village football teams, community groups and the council itself.

In recent months, Spalding-based architects Oglesby & Limb have been commissioned to review various potential sites - with Andrew Oglesby attending the meeting to deliver an update.

However, the plans have faced some stiff competition - primarily from Cllr Peter Clery, who has deemed it a “vanity project” and expressed frustration over its proposed £1million price tag.

He was also left angered by Cllr Brewis being unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting.

Mr Oglesby told those in attendance that his architects have looked at three potential sites for a new build, devising reports on each of their suitability.

He said: “I see a lot more advantages to building on the west side of the park.”

However, one resident voiced his displeasure at what he felt was a waste of money examining the south side despite it never being a realistic probability.

Cllr Clery said that the plans could be “potentially disastrous”, and lamented the £70,000 already spent on the investigative process.

On the overall cost of a new build, he added: “It is just possible that the council might be able to get grants of, say, half a million.

“That leaves half a million pounds unaccounted for.

“I am sorry if I come across as powerful but I feel very strongly about this.”

Mr Oglesby confirmed that the £70,000 his firm had received was a “full fee from now until the end of the project”.

Cllr Clery also delivered hand-outs to those in attendance which detailed his main concerns.

In those, he said: “Grant providers who could be approached might well take note that the project is, to a large extent, duplicating already existing facilities.”

Anne Scarlett, leader of the parish council, said a new pavilion would aim to provide facilities for a range of groups in the village - and would not focus primarily on its football team.

She said: “Part of the idea is to bring more sports into the pavilion and be more inclusive to more sports in the village.”

Cllr Terry York responded: “At the moment I don’t see anything other than the football club.”

However, one resident informed the meeting that an archery club is currently operating and is open to new members.

Cllr Clery’s hand-out added: “The alternative is clear. A sports pavilion is badly needed and we would have had one years ago if Cllr Brewis had done his job properly.

“The proposal is daft and I hope a new parish council will throw it out at once and go for one of the sensible alternatives.”

At the meeting, he proceeded to call for a vote of no confidence in the council’s plans to build a new pavilion.

Seven hands were raised in support, with two abstaining from voting.

On Cllr Brewis being unable to attend the meeting, Cllr Colin Robinson said: “If you had known that they wouldn’t have been able to make it, wouldn’t it have been better to re-arrange the meeting?”