'Forensic audit' on Thames Gateway

A Conservative government would halt all new Thames Gateway regeneration projects while a "forensic audit" was carried out.

Shadow minister for communities and local government Stewart Jackson said plans for the area were "a mess" and a Tory administration would put a "moratorium" on new spending while the books were examined.

The Tories' Thames Gateway spokesman told a fringe meeting at the Conservative party conference that it was not clear what the £7billion spent by the Government had achieved.

Mr Jackson said a Tory government would also have to take account of the international financial turmoil in deciding which projects should go ahead.

He said: "We have spent in excess of £7billion on regeneration initiatives in the Thames Gateway area since 2003 and what have we got to show for it? The answer is we don't know because the Government doesn't collect data properly. We will look at what was pledged, we will look at what money has gone in and we will look at what outputs have come out.

"We have a duty and responsibility in a very difficult financial climate to make sure that money has been spent properly. It's not a good use of taxpayers' money and we must put a stop to the spending until we know we are getting bangs for our bucks and taxpayers' interests are being looked after."

The Thames Gateway project is aimed at boosting the economy of the whole Thames estuary region through development and regeneration including new infrastructure, transport links, homes, schools and businesses.

Afterwards Mr Jackson said ongoing projects would "most likely be honoured" but admitted they would be assessed on a scheme-by-scheme basis and that some existing ones could be affected.

He told the Standard: "We would carry out a forensic audit on what has been achieved in terms of engaging with the private sector, performance against the delivery plan, particularly with sustainable and affordable housing. It would not be prudent to commit to further spending while this was going on. But we are not saying we are going to pull the plug on Thames Gateway." However, the announcement provoked a row in the meeting, with Conservative councillors lining up to express their dismay.

Chairman of the meeting Conservative Essex county councillor Stephen Castle said: "I'm wondering whether I actually want to vote Conservative in the next election given that a Conservative government is going to put a moratorium on expenditure and investment in my part of the UK."

Tory councillor Wendy Goodwin added: "You can't just pull the rug from under schemes local people have been waiting on for a long time."