A multi-million pound project to refurbish Blackpool’s Abingdon Street Market has over spent by more than £700,000, with the council set to foot some of the outstanding bill.
Changes to the original designs have been blamed for the overspend on the £3.6m scheme, funded by the government’s Getting Building Fund. Coun Tony Williams, leader of the opposition Conservative group, blasted the council for the delays and overspend.He said: “This is just another in a long line of over budget and late delivery projects this council are responsible for.
The council said some of the overspend, around £300, 000, will be met by the market’s operators including an initial £100,000 payment towards fitting out costs with a further £200,000 generated from revenue from the first year of food and drink trading. The council will contribute the remaining £363,400 towards the shortfall.