SUFFOLK will have to pay back more than �1billion for infrastructure projects that cost just a quarter of that to build, the EADT can reveal.

Privately-funded schemes - such as a �176million waste plant at Great Blakenham - have burdened the county with a “generation of debt”, says a county MP.

Dan Poulter criticised the “scandal” of private finance initiative (PFI) schemes claiming the “punitive” interest payments would hit frontline services.

Figures obtained following a series of Freedom of Information requests - and figures from the Treasury - revealed a project to build new Suffolk police investigation centres cost �25.6m but taxpayers will pay back nearly �129m.

Suffolk’s other PFI debts include:

- �613m on a �176m waste plant at Great Blakenham

- �127.4m on a �27.2m accident and emergency block at Ipswich Hospital

- �119m on a �34.2m MoD scheme to build married quarters at Wattisham Airfield

- �45.1m on a �13.2m project to build or refurbish Suffolk fire stations

Suffolk County Council said PFI allowed “significant capital programmes” to go ahead that otherwise might not have done.

In addition the fire stations and Great Blakenham projects had been part-funded by central Government PFI credits.

But Dr Poulter, MP for north Ipswich and central Suffolk, said: “I think it is a scandal in terms of many older people who have worked all their lives and we’re paying money in interest payments instead of social care and it’s a scandal future generations will have to pay it off.

He added that a “generation of debt” had been placed on the people of Suffolk and that they would pay through cuts to frontline services.

He said: “With PFI you pay the capital cost and then the interest payments, more than you would with a mortgage.

“If you compare these debts to a mortgage, you’re talking four times the original sum. It does not stack up financially.”

But a spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council said: “Private finance initiatives have provided the county council with a way of financing significant capital programmes that otherwise might not be undertaken, such as fire stations and the energy from waste centre at Great Blakenham.”

“The energy from waste centre will provide Suffolk with a cheaper, greener solution for disposing of household waste which cannot reasonably be recycled as well as putting that waste to good use as a fuel to generate electricity.

“Over the life of the contract this will be around �350 million cheaper than sending this waste to landfill and it will also be better for the environment.”

TAXPAYERS will have to pay back nearly �4billion for infrastructure projects in north Essex that cost just a fifth of that to build, the EADT can reveal.

Privately-funded schemes have burdened Essex with a “millstone around its neck” for many years to come, a senior councillor has claimed.

Councillor Mike Mackrory, leader of the Lib Dems on Essex County Council, said taxpayers would be “alarmed” at the sums committed under the private finance initiative (PFI).

Figures obtained following a series of Freedom of Information requests - and figures from the Treasury - revealed a Ministry of Defence project to build new living/working accommodation at Colchester Garrison cost �561.9m. Yet taxpayers will pay back nearly �3bn.

Essex’s other PFI debts include:

- �766.1m for a �148m extension at Broomfield Hospital near Chelmsford

- �89m for a �34m scheme to build new secondary schools in Clacton

- �76m for a �15m project to build primary schools in Tendring

- �50m for a �15m scheme to build Debden Park High School

Other schemes in the south of the county include debts of �315.1m on a �97.5m scheme to extend the A130 between the A12 and A127.

Cllr Mackrory said: “I think it’s fair to say we have always had grave concerns about PFI projects and the fact we’re committed to these massive sums in the future and there’s no get out.

“Having said that in many ways it’s the only show in town and if we want to get these projects we have to use the resources that are available.

“Nevertheless it’s a real worry that this is a millstone around our necks for many years to come.

“Sometimes with these things these contracts get sold on and you get committed to even bigger sums in the future.

“I think taxpayers will be quite alarmed when they discover the amount of money that’s been committed.

“With local government finance the way it is at the moment there’s a real concern that we’re committed to these contracts and that anything else is severely constricted.”

Essex County Councillor David Finch, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance and transformation, said: “Essex County Council made use of PFI schemes as this was the preferred central government route for financing major schemes such as Building Schools for the Future.

“The PFI route provided a central source of grant funding and so reduced the burden on the local taxpayer. In total, the authority expects to receive in excess of �500 million from central government as a contribution to the cost of the assets. All PFI schemes were subject to value for money assessments under Treasury rules.”