NHS wasting our cash on vacant town centre building

THE NHS has spent more than £100,000 renting a building that has been vacant for five years.

The three-storey building in St Botolph’s Street, Colchester has been leased by the NHS since 1995.

It has not been used for the last five years but the taxpayers have still had to foot the bill.

Steve Miller, owner of Miller Stationery in St Botolph’s Street, said: “It is disgusting. How many operations could that have paid for?”

The building is in the heart of what is known as the town’s Cultural Quarter, which is undergoing a regeneration project led by Colchester Council and Essex County Council.

Ron Levy, secretary of Colchester Retail Business Association, said: “We are concerned that it does rather blight the area and make it look very run down.”

A Department of Health spokesman said it is in negotiations with an interested party on the lease.

Comments(4)

wellnow says...
8:29pm Mon 27 Feb 12

the story read like the health authority got a short term lease.
then paid£20,000 a year to rent it.who did they pay rent to if they were the lease holder.have l got this right?

Tramper1962 says...
10:37pm Mon 27 Feb 12

Well this money they have had to pay for this empty office space, could of been put to good use.
Like training staff to listen to their patients.

Anne Allan says...
10:37pm Mon 27 Feb 12

Hey ho. It's only our money, taken off us under threat of imprisonment for non-compliance. Good heavens, next thing you know, we'll expect it to be spent on patients!

Reginald47 says...
11:58pm Mon 27 Feb 12

The actual story in the paper says, right near the bottom, that it would have cost more to cancel the lease than keep it going albeit with an empty shop. Not very convenient when you've already chosen your 'angle.'

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