A BOROUGH councillor said he is “fuming” after plans to build a new community centre in his ward have been delayed again.

Cllr Dan Putty, ward councillor for Beggarwood and Hatch Warren, met with the council’s executive director of borough services, Rebecca Emmett, to share his frustrations that building work for the long-awaited centre has still not begun.

The centre was planned as part of a new housing development off Beggarwood Lane, where 310 homes are currently under construction on a 30 acre greenfield site.

But Cllr Putty said he is concerned about the lack of infrastructure to support the development.

Speaking to The Gazette, he said: “It’s been delayed and delayed. Year after year they say it will be started and there’s always some problem that crops up. I’m so frustrated. I’m fuming.”

Cllr Putty said he was told that the building work would start this month, but then heard that it had been postponed again.

He added: “It’s been going on for at least 10 years. This is why I’m so frustrated. I would hope that they will come up with at least a date to start. They always say this month or the next month and then a year goes by. I said to the people of Beggarwood that a community centre will be built and it’s been delayed and delayed.”

Cllr Putty also fears that the current infrastructure will not be able to support the new homes, adding: “The doctors’ surgery is full to capacity and the dental surgery is full.”

He claims that sewage from the new development is being connected to the Beggarwood system, adding: “I’m very concerned about whether the sewage system in Beggarwood will be able to cope.”

The new community centre will be built in Beggarwood Park, run by the Hatch Warren Community Association.

About £505,000 of developer contributions will be used to fund the new centre which will include a foyer space, office and toilets with the main hall facing views of the park.

The council’s cabinet member for communities and community safety, Cllr Simon Bound, said: “Planning approval for the community facility at Beggarwood has been delayed due to an unexpected ecological issue, which required extensive surveillance, and also negotiating suitable car parking. A full report is expected to be considered by cabinet at a meeting on September 27.”