WYRE Forest council chiefs have been forced to ditch plans to create money-making industrial units within a proposed multi-million one stop shop of services due to drainage problems.

Detailed site investigations for the planned new facility at Green Street, Kidderminster revealed a need to repair and upgrade the drainage system running underneath.

As a result, the £3million project will no longer include five industrial units which the Tory-led council believed would bring in around £30,000 per year in rental income.

The original scheme provoked a storm of protest from opposition councillors due to plans to relocate the customer services ‘Hub’ currently based at the Town Hall to the new facility. They have now called for the whole project to be shelved.

Council leader Marcus Hart stressed that the project would still run on time and within budget while existing commercial services at Green Street will develop to cover the income that would have been generated by the units.

But Wyre Forest Liberal Democrat leader Fran Oborski said: “If we are abandoning the part of the scheme that was going to bring in income then there is precious little point in doing the disruption of moving The Hub from the Town Hall.

“As it is, the works now proposed appear to be going to demolish the Dial-a-Ride facility at Green Street only recently redecorated and double glazed, cause major inconvenience to many members of the population by moving it and not get an increased income!”

Independent Councillor Helen Dyke said: “Why wasn't a full investigation carried out when this idea was first explored by the Cabinet and before the plans were released?

“The plan was put forward as an income generation/money saving project which is now going to have a shortfall. Surely it would be better to abandon the whole idea of moving the Hub to Green Street.

“We were against the relocation in the first place and now are even more convinced that this is the wrong decision for local residents and Kidderminster town centre.”

And Labour group leader Nigel Knowles added: “I think there is now a huge question mark over the whole scheme. It’s too easy to say they will make up the shortfall from the lost income.”

Councillor Hart said: “This is a major development in the historic, industrial heart of Kidderminster town centre.

“It is not unusual in a development of this size and complexity for original design ideas to be revised and updated once detailed site investigations have been carried out.

“We believe the revised plans will deliver our prime objective – to bring back into life two historic town centre buildings and create a modern, user-friendly facility for staff and visitors. It is my desire that the project will be completed within the original budget and timescales.”