MINEHEAD residents will be able to have their say on the fate of the proposed new sports and community centre on Irnham Road recreation ground at two open days, town councillors decided at a behind-closed doors meeting on Tuesday.

The decision followed a heated council meeting the previous week when it was revealed that estimated costs for the proposed flagship scheme had spiralled from the original £763,000 to what was understood to be nearly £2 million.

The Summerland Road council ofices will be open from 10am to noon on Saturday mornings November 10 and 17, when plans will be available and officers will answer questions.

But yesterday (Thursday), Minehead’s mayor, Cllr Norman Hercock, revealed that he was “not happy” with the decision and said there should have been a professional independent consultation so that residents could find out exactly how their money was being spent.

“The council has never been involved in a project this big and there should be an independent in-depth public survey so that ratepayers get the full picture and have the chance to say what they feel about the scheme,” he said.

“The imput I am getting is that people welcome the facilities the project would provide but are worried about the cost, how it will be maintained and where the income will come from because, at the end of the day, they will foot the bill.”

Cllr Hercock added: “When we held a similar open day on the project three years ago, about 18 people turned up out of 12,500 and nothing useful was learned.

“We should have had a proper professional consultation on a project of this magnitude. The problem is that the deadlines for applying for grants are now so close that we can’t delay any longer.

“We should have sorted this out and properly consulted the public months ago.”

At the last council meeting, residents interupted proceedings to protest at the lack of consultation and the escalation of costs after it was agreed to ask for permission for a £500,000 government loan for the project -an increase of £200,000 on the original sum proposed.

At Tuesday’s closed meeting, councillors examined estimates for the building, which included £200,000 for a proposed new council office, and agreed that the public should be given a chance to air their views before the project goes ahead.