Labour Cllr Peter Price again says the World Student Games deficit was “settled” in 1992 (Star 2 August). So we again have to direct people to recent Sheffield City Council accounts which say
“The outstanding liability as at 31 March 2016 is £114.7million.”
The mainly roofless Don Valley Stadium was seen by many as an expensive white elephant and has now been demolished. But other venues have attracted big events – the Sheffield Olympics GB National Summer Games are very welcome here from August 7 to 12.
Clive Betts MP commented in 2011 “Labour borrowed money to provide facilities that are extremely well-used, and an asset for Sheffield.” The question is whether or not they have provided value for money. Debt refinancing means a final cost of £650 million with annual repayments of up to £30 million continuing to 2024. That’s more than four times the original cost of building venues for the 1991 Games.
Peter Garbutt
Sheffield Green Party
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