10:38am Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Simon Carr
A TRIO of hoteliers is renewing its attempts to block a controversial hotel project at the Rose Bowl.
Meridian Leisure, Shire and MacDonald had their initial request for a judicial review turned down, as the Daily Echo exclusively revealed, but have been given extra time to launch an appeal and say they plan to do so.
The £32.2m is due to be built and owned by Eastleigh Borough Council who came to the rescue of the Rose Bowl when private funding dried up last year.
Paying for the hotel and conference centre will make the authority the biggest investor in the £48m project.
The hotel giants claimed the council had not given its members all the relevant reports to make a decision, it was gambling with taxpayers' money and it had not taken into account the financial situation surrounding the Rose Bowl.
A spokesman from legal firm Carter Ruck said: "The hoteliers are disappointed by the deputy judge's findings but remain of the view that the council have failed to properly consider, or indeed appreciate, the great risks this development presents to each and every taxpayer in Eastleigh.
"The hoteliers will later this week be renewing their application for a judicial review for consideration at an oral hearing and remain confident as to the possibility of success overturning the decision."
The Daily Echo understands the appeal must be put in by close of business tomorrow.
Rose Bowl boss Rod Bransgrove has remain adamant throughout that the contract is "robust and would stand up to any scrutiny."
Council leader Keith House insists it will create jobs, bring in money and be a world class hub for sports and entertainment describing the project as "win,win, win."
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