OPPOSITION councillors have reacted with “delight” after it was announced BCP Council leaders have dropped their plans to purchase Barclays House – but condemned the leadership for being “reckless” with taxpayers’ money. 

On Thursday, it was revealed BCP Council had dropped their controversial plans to purchase the iconic Poole building, which included a 1,100-space car park. 

BCP Council put in an ‘indicative’ bid of £17 million to Barclays to gain an exclusivity period to explore their options – a figure more than £10 million higher than Fortitudo’s offer. They also had put aside £195,000 to carry out due diligence. 

Read more: BCP Council will NOT continue to buy Barclays House

Bournemouth Echo: Barclays HouseBarclays House

Opposition councillors had been kept in the dark about the major plans to buy the estate, with most only learning of the news through the Echo. 

Cllr Steve Bartlett, who has been vocal in his criticism of the council leadership's plans, said he was “delighted” to hear BCP Council will not be putting in a formal bid for the building block. 

He said: “It's very good to hear. I can’t believe that they would even consider spending all that money in the first place.  

“It was never on anybody’s agenda. The notion that they might spend it on another civic centre when they’ve spent all that money on Bournemouth Town Hall defies belief. 

Bournemouth Echo: Cllr Steve BartlettCllr Steve Bartlett (Image: NQ)

“But it’s another couple of hundred thousand pounds wasted on various consultant fees.” 

Cllr Vikki Slade said: “They’ve wasted a massive chunk of cash once again as well as the free port, the city status, the KPMG report. I am really pleased  that he’s pulled out of the white elephant because it was never going to go anywhere; it was just a vanity project.  

“I’m glad he’s seen sense. My view is that if they want the government to take them seriously that they are acknowledging quite how bad the financial situation is, they should be demonstrating that they are voluntarily stopping all of this extra spend.”  

Read more: Councillors react to BCP leadership after Barclays House bid

Cllr Lesley Dedman, of the Christchurch Independents Group and on the scrutiny committee, said: “I can’t believe they spent all that money on due diligence.  

“It’s utterly disgraceful we went down that road when there are so many other irons in the fire and now, we are realising that it’s all been for nothing. We should never have started on this venture in the first place. 

“They have been utterly reckless with the public’s money.”