Community asset or expensive toy?

Story by Rob Smith

August 2004 saw the launch of the BNDfC Super Truck vehicle on Ellesmere Green and although fully hyped around the community the turn out was abysmal.

I might have thought it was because the community is tired of launches but as I arrived I saw the chair of our Partnership Board Rose Ardron being told by a local man that the whole thing was a waste of money, a bad design and idea.

“What do New Deal people think they’re doing, wasting our money on that,” he said pointing to the object that was sat on the green beside a large marquee in a vain attempt to draw attention to itself.

I already knew that £100k had been spent on the vehicle, but was surprised to find out it couldn’t be hired out to the community for money and so would go on needing New Deal funding to keep it on the road. I went to New Deal to find out what was going on. John Clark, BNDfC Executive Director said:

“The primary purpose of the information vehicle is to support BNDfC and local organisations to ensure that local people are aware of and able to participate in activities in the area. However, where there are opportunities to generate income by hiring the vehicle out to statutory organisations, these opportunities will be taken in order to develop an income stream that supports the vehicle beyond the life of New Deal.

“As with other New Deal assets, the intention is to transfer assets over to the most appropriate community/voluntary organisations at the end of the programme.”

Free truck

Ian Clifford, Over Arching Theme Manager, encouraged people to use the bus. “The vehicle is available for hire by any community organisation in the Burngreave Corporate Area, free of charge, with driver provided. Where there are competing demands, events in the Burngreave New Deal Area take priority.”

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