Council bosses admit they feel left in the dark and are "deeply concerned" about plans to build the world's largest fresh-water aquarium in mid-Bedfordshire.

All three leaders of the major parties at Borough Hall say they have had little information about the £600million Nirah project over the last 12 months.

They claim that Mayor Frank Branston has led the scheme, and admit they do not know what is happening while he is seriously ill in hospital.

Councillor Nicky Attenborough, Conservative group leader and acting Mayor of Bedford, said: "I am deeply concerned.

"There does not appear to be anything concrete. There was a great fanfare of trumpets from county council and everyone else when all this began. But since then, nothing else seems to have come out."

She added: "I have not heard anything for over a year. Of course I wouldn't have thought that the mayor would back bad horses. I have always thought of him as an astute businessman."

The Nirah project first gained outline planning permission for the site at the Quest clay pit in Stewartby in October 2007.

It was planned to include two large freshwater aquaria, each holding one million gallons of water, featuring fish, reptiles, and amphibians from one of the world's great rivers.

The scheme was launched before the abolition of Bedfordshire County Council earlier this year, and was long championed by Mayor Branston.

But two weeks ago the mayor was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery and his condition is still described as "serious".

Councillors say this has made it clear how little they have been kept up to date with the scheme.

Liberal Democrat group leader Dave Hodgson said: "Personally I have never expected us to get back the money the county council put in. Officially, so far I have heard very little."

Sue Oliver, Labour group leader, added: "That is the problem with a mayoral authority.

"Once the head has gone it is difficult for anyone to know what is going on."

However, Councillor Richard Stay, deputy leader of Central Beds Council and a non-executive board member of Nirah, said he was still "optimistic".

And he claimed no MP or councillor at Borough Hall had asked him for an update on the scheme's progress.

He said: "Nirah is still operating, and I still receive briefing papers. I don't think that anybody is pretending for one second that Nirah is awash with cash because this is a difficult economic climate."

In an emailed statement a Nirah spokesman said: "Nirah is presently in legal dispute with the owners of Quest. For that reason we have no comment to make regarding progress or other matters in connection with the Nirah project."


What do you think? Is this bad news for the Nirah project, or should our councillors just be more proactive in staying in touch with what is going on? Let us know by emailing editorial@timesandcitizen.co.uk


The BedfordToday files:

Nirah cash pleas refused by council

£600 million Nirah scheme gets the go-ahead

Credit crunch threat to Nirah: Mayor


External link:

Nirah website