A TROWBRIDGE town councillor has accused officers of “misleading” members after they concluded a three-year deal with Wiltshire College & University Centre to use the new 3G Artificial Turf Pitch next to Doric Park.

The agreement gives the College exclusive term time use every weekday from 9am-4pm of the new £7.5 million facility to be built next to Doric Park and scheduled to open in September 2023.

In March, the council and the college agreed an initial five-year deal with a two-year notice period, giving the council time to find other users if the college pulled out.

But one councillor who is unhappy about the secrecy surrounding the three-year ‘Option 2’ deal has accused officers of “misleading” them and the public because he says they were not aware it was being tabled.

Former Tory Group leader Cllr Antonio Piazza said: “Councillors were never informed that this option was on the table. Councillors were informed that we had a five-year deal on offer with a two-year break clause inserted.

“Now we have just been told that a hidden three-year deal was put to Wiltshire College. Not only have we misled the public, but councillors have been misled too as no councillor was aware that this was even an option.”

He’s now asking the town council’s chief executive Lance Allan for an urgent explanation and full details of the correspondence between the council and the college.

Announcing the deal, Mr Allan said: “The governing body of Wiltshire Council considered the options presented to them last week and have approved Option 2. Officers were notified by the College Principal of this decision on 24th May.

“The College only receives one-year funding settlements and whilst it is committed to a long-term partnership with the town council it is not able to sign up to such a long-term legal agreement.

“In our discussions with governors, the town council officers are assured of their long-term commitment to the partnership with the town council for the Doric Park facilities.

“Option 2 is for a minimum three-year initial arrangement, commencing September 2023, with one-year’s notice to be given prior to the second anniversary and charges of £90,000 in year one, £100,000 in year two and £110,000 in year three.

“The arrangement would then be subject to annual rolling extensions beyond the initial three-year period on the basis of the following charges: £120,000 in year four, £130,000 in year five and then September CPI (Consumer Price Index) inflation of the previous year applied each year from year six onwards.

“We will now be working with the College and legal representatives to draw up the legal agreement on this basis.”