BEVERLEY- The ongoing saga over Beverley Town Council’s attempts to secure a new town hall has drawn renewed scrutiny after The Yorkshire Post revealed that over £100,000 has been spent on aborted civic projects — with no new building to show for it.
According to a report published by The Yorkshire Post, the council purchased the former Morton Lane Baptist Church in 2022 for £235,000, intending to convert it into a permanent town hall. Since then, nearly £75,000 has been spent on professional fees, insurance, and utilities, with a further £28,200 budgeted for 2025 ; all for a building that remains unused.
This is not the first time the Liberal Democrat run council’s town hall ambitions have seen taxpayers spend significant sums for no benefit. The same Yorkshire Post article notes that a prior plan; involving St Nicholas Primary School in 2019 cost up £20,000 in consultancy fees before being scrapped. Meanwhile, a third possible location on Cross Street is under discussion.
Public confidence
The repeated misfires and the cost to the public are now fuelling growing frustration in the town. Civic figure and former Flemingate manager Graham Tait described the situation as “indefensible”, pointing out that the money could have gone toward supporting Beverley’s tourism economy.
Local MP Graham Stuart weighed in, calling it a “town hall fiasco” and accusing the Liberal Democrat-led council of “playing Monopoly with public money”.
Spending Misfires?
Concerns over financial priorities aren’t limited to town hall projects. In 2022, the council spent over £15,000 on a metal, non-religious Christmas tree to replace the traditional real tree in Toll Gavel. The decision drew criticism at the time, but became even more contentious when, just two years later, the tree broke leaving the council with a £6,000 repair bill.
Council Defends Record
The Town Council has defended its actions, citing post-pandemic inflation and the 2022 Truss-Kwarteng mini-budget as factors that disrupted borrowing plans and made long-term investments harder to deliver. Councillor Denis Healey told The Yorkshire Post the council may still recover some costs by selling the Morton Lane building, but admitted the process had “not gone as hoped”.
Third time lucky?
What began as a civic improvement initiative now faces significant challenges. Financial, political, and reputational. With a 43% increase in the town council precept since 2021 and no completed project to date, questions are being asked about how decisions are made and whether residents are getting value for money.
The ongoing spending, coupled with shifting plans, has sparked debate not only about this project but about the council’s broader approach to long-term planning and resource allocation. Are these missteps the product of poor execution, overly ambitious goals, or simply bad luck in turbulent economic times?
As further decisions loom, including the future of the Morton Lane site and the consideration of a third location clarity and transparency may be more important than speed. Whether this situation reflects deeper structural issues or a temporary period of misjudgment remains to be seen.
What is clear is that many in Beverley are looking for more than explanations; they are seeking evidence of lessons learned and a way forward that avoids further missteps. The next steps will likely be watched closely.
We did ask for a comment from a leading Beverley Councillor but did not hear back.
About Beverley Town Council
Beverley Town Council, established in 1999, is a grassroots-level authority focused entirely on the town of Beverley, working independently from East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which manages broader responsibilities like housing, highways, and social services. With fourteen elected councillors and a small staff team, the Town Council serves four local wards: Minster North, Minster South, St Mary’s East, and St Mary’s West within Beverley’s parish boundaries. While it may be smaller in scale, Beverley Town Council plays a vital role in enhancing community life through local projects, events, and services that bring a unique character to the town. Guided by three strategic ambitions creating a cleaner, greener Beverley; fostering a caring, connected community; and ensuring financial transparency the Council remains committed to making Beverley a better place to live, work, and visit. Councillors and staff actively encourage resident involvement and deeply value the many volunteers who help make Beverley thrive.
Image: Beverley Town Council