A controversial portable stage, which cost a whopping £27,000, has finally been delivered to Hatfield. It has a floor area of almost 24 feet wide by 19 feet deep with 15 foot headroom. The stage was purchased in Poland and paid for out of the Portas Pilot prize winnings which were awarded to help improve Hatfield's dismal town centre. But, it seems, the two and a half ton structure will be spending 99% of its time in storage nearly two miles away in a lock-up behind the Hilltop shops. The Town Team who purchased it, are led by WGC resident and Conservative Councillor Tony Kingsbury who is now facing a raft of questions as to the viability of the contraption which has taken up over a quarter of the Portas cash prize, with no apparent benefit to the town centre shopping experience. Supporters  behind the purchase believe that the portable stage could be used for community fetes around Hatfield - of which there appear to be only two or three a year. But critics say there is so little demand for it and the costs for three workmen to transport, erect and dismantle it would be around £600 every time it's used. And they wonder who will be paying for this service? Furthermore, there doesn't seem to be an adequate council owned vehicle available to tow the trailer containing the stage.

Town Councillor Dean Archer said, "This could be one big white elephant, bought on a whim and without any proper plan for its use. This portable stage will obviously do nothing to improve our town centre and be too costly to use elsewhere. It's a ridiculous waste of money"