Anger as £2,440 is lost in translation

- 29 March 2007

THE £2,440 spent every time council newspaper Redbridge Life is translated has been branded "criminal" by outraged residents.

News of the cost sparked anger amid fears that Redbridge Council's social services budget may be slashed.

But a council spokesman defended the spending, saying: "Since its launch in 2005, there have been just two requests for translation."

Dharam Sahdev, 67, who sits on the Redbridge Life residents' panel, stormed: "This is criminal. We're paying full council taxes for this. I could do it for £100. People my age depend on their pensions, yet we're funding this. It's not right."

Fellow panel member Wilson Chowdhry said: "It's quite right that the council should provide services like this, but I can't understand how it costs £2,440 for just one translation.

"There's a number of websites available which translate English into almost every other language for free."

A Redbridge Council spokesman said it had a legal duty to provide such information to all groups and that the organisation which translates the publication - Newham Language Shop - offered "the best value for money overall, in terms of cost and quality".

If a high number of requests were made for translated copies, the spokesman said alternative ways of providing the information would be considered - including telephone or face-to-face services.

Former councillor John Coombes, who has slammed the proposed cutbacks in adult social services, said: "I think it's a disgrace.

"If they can find money to do that then they can find money to put back into the social services budget.

"They need to get their priorities right.