Madam,

With the current severe restrictions on the public purse meaning so many services go unfunded, it is saddening to have to return once more to return to Cylch Caron, the proposed Integrated Care centre at Tregaron. Thirteen years and a reported £16m-plus later, still all there is to show is a sign outside an empty field.

A Freedom of Information request was given the answer that this project had cost the council nothing in monetary terms. The fact of the matter is that this money has been raised largely through Welsh Assembly monies, which could have been spent on better managed projects, rather than wasted. Also, it has doubtless cost the council and Hywel Dda in terms of reputation. An invitation to tender for the design and build contract for Cylch Caron resulted in just one suitable application. This fact, council chief executive Efion Evans reported to the Cabinet on 2 July, means that another £850k has been added to the costs for which ‘revenue streams’ are yet to identified. In other words, they are currently at a loss as to where the extra money will come from.

It is to be suspected, however, rather than cut their losses, CCC, Hywel Dda, the Assembly and the other stakeholders will continue to throw good money after bad until this enormous white elephant will trumpet its own ‘success’, in the hope that the public will disregard the enormous waste of public money.

Yours etc, George Holloway, North Ceredigion Forum for Elderly Care.

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