A MOTION to speed up drainage work required on the allotments off Tunbridge Lane was thwarted at Monday's Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council meting.

Councillor Nigel Newman asked fellow councillors to waive existing financial regulations, which require three separate quotations for any quote over £3,000, in order to carry out drainage work at the allotments at a cost of £3,150 to be funded from the allotment earmarked reserve of £5,500.

He explained that a group of allotments holders were very anxious that the drainage work, removing water prior to getting into the allotments and being carried away to a safe discharge through the meadows into the River Wey, would be done sooner rather than later, as flooding would have a detrimental effect on their seasonal planting.

They were also anxious for a decision to be made as soon as possible, since the next recreations committee meeting was not scheduled until February next year.

Mr Newman pleaded with councillors to waive the requirement for three quotes in favour of the allotments holders' time scale, since the money required was in the earmarked reserve.

One quote for drainage work had been received, following a visit by the allotments representative and the assistant clerk, with a second one outstanding.

Parish clerk Tony Groves had outlined at the last recreation committee meeting on November 3, the need to proceed with the work and committee chairman Mr Newman, along with councillor Anna James, were in favour of going ahead with the work.

They were happy with the company selected to do the work, as time was of the essence and funding was in place.

However, Philip Jordan, who is also the chairman of Liphook In Bloom, had insisted that three quotes would be required, as set out in the financial regulations, and continued to defend his decision during the full council meeting on Monday, ensuing a heated discussion amongs several other councillors.

Parish chairman Dr John Tough came to a decision that two more quotes should be obtained as quickly as possible, but the decision to accept should be delegated to the chairman of the parish council, the chairman of the recreation committee and the parish clerk in order to determine the best value.

That would ensure the council could proceed without further delay, which was agreed as an acceptable compromise by the majority of councillors.