Dear Editor, 

The council administration have just bought the Premier Inn on Victoria Street for £8.7million and they say it will offer a return of some £417,000 a year.  

I remember Basingstoke in the early 2000s doing great business with the likes of Grosvenor to bring major investment into the town centre. We had a forward-looking perspective that wanted business growth through partnerships with the private sector. It’s not wrong that the council owns land or seeks to make money for local residents from those holdings, after all in an uncertain financial climate for local government those investments can secure stability for many local services that both businesses and residents rely on.  

READ MORE: Premier Inn Basingstoke: Council buys town centre hotel for more than £8million

It's about vision, it’s about a willingness to work in joint ventures that are well thought out and it is above all about competence.  

But when people and businesses are facing such a cost-of-living crisis as we have seen this summer and which will be far worse this coming winter. When people are being forced to choose between heating or putting food on the table, the council must get its priorities right.  

What difference will that revenue now gained make to people’s lives. What will we see for the investment that has been made. It’s no good making investments for the sake of playing Monopoly with the town's assets. We need to see a meaningful return for the people of our borough beyond simply the money and £8.7million is a lot of taxpayer's money. 

SEE ALSO: Council buys town centre hotel for undisclosed sum in bid to bolster delivery of essential services

So, what part does this new hotel owned by the council have to play in their bigger plans for the future of the town centre? It does seem like the current administration are obsessed with hotels! What about the other major investments our town needs? 

Dr Paul Harvey

Leader of the Basingstoke & Deane Independents