Glossop has missed out on £20m investment that would have seen a new leisure and wellbeing centre in the town after it was rejected by the Government.
The money would also have been used to make improvements to Victoria Hall, the community arts venue.
However, the council's bid was criticised by High Peak MP Robert Largan who said High Peak Labour Council's funding bid was assessed by independent civil servants on a range of criteria and scored poorly on the measures used to prioritise funding applications.
Officials were concerned about the lack of detailed costs, timelines, and whether the Council had secured the relevant planning permission, he said.
As a result, the bid was not even shortlisted for ministerial approval, with officials concluding: “The lack of detailed designs, outstanding formal consents and an agreed land deal for the leisure centre site" represented too great a risk for taxpayers.
The Department officials advised the council of the need to appoint “design teams to work up planning applications and to undertake early construction company engagement” to confirm the project’s final cost. In the process, “more detail” was also required on the “monitoring and evaluation” of the project to ensure value for money and timeliness.
Mr Largan claimed he was excluded from key decisions and did not receive a copy of the Council’s full bid until just a few days before the extended final deadline.
He said: “The sad truth is that Labour failed to do their homework. This was an historic opportunity for High Peak. It has sadly been squandered by Labour’s incompetence yet again.
“However, I am not giving up. Where the Council have failed, I'm stepping in with extensive negotiations with Ministers to make the case for further investment in High Peak.
“Labour might have given up on High Peak. I never will!”
However, Jon Pearce, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for High Peak, said the area had been "overlooked" by the Government and deserved its "fair share".
He said: “Yet again Glossop has been overlooked by this Government, when areas all around us are getting much needed levelling-up funding.”
“We pay our taxes. We deserve our fair share. But we are not getting it with this Government.”
“Had the Government supported the bid; it would have provided a massive boost for the local economy at a time when we are facing the largest fall in living standards on record and the stagnation of our economy.”
“The wellbeing hub would also have increased access to healthcare services. This is desperately needed with so many people contacting me about the perilous state of the NHS locally.
“This Conservative government has deliberately created a system of winners and losers – today the people of Glossop and surrounding communities are the losers.”
Cllr Damien Greenhalgh, deputy leader of High Peak Borough Council and a Glossop councillor said: “As a born and bred Glossopian I am deeply disappointed by the government’s decision to snub Glossop. There are clear questions to be answered over how this funding has been allocated across the country.
“The local Conservative MP has failed to deliver on his promises for High Peak. He was happy to try and take the credit when he thought the bid would be successful but is now trying to pass the buck, once again.”
"This is a real kick in the teeth for everyone who believes in our town, its heritage and its future. But we will continue to do it ourselves, as we always have.”
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