Richmond Council has revealed the full cost of the Teddington School rebuild overspend.  Local taxpayers have had to find £11.9 million in addition to government funding of £25 million.

£3.5 million is being taken from Council reserves and £8.4 million is additional council borrowing.  Conservative Deputy Leader, Cllr David Marlow, stated: "This revelation spells out the full cost of this overspend which will be a burden on the Council tax payer for a generation.

"Reserves are not there to underwrite Libdem incompetence; reserves are for projects to benefit the residents of the Borough. £3.5 million would have expanded a primary school where additional places are desperately required. The additional borrowing and interest will be a liability on the Council tax payers for many years to come.

"This is the price of a Council that has no control of its finances.  If Whitton – same size, more difficult site – can be rebuilt for £22m, why spend more?  The Council allowed itself to be taken for a ride – and local taxpayers are compelled to pay the bill”