A BEHIND-closed-doors meeting next Tuesday could determine the fate of Minehead’s proposed flagship sports and community centre project when town councillors examine estimates for the building which are understood could spiral to nearly £2 million.

The original estimate for transforming Minehead’s Irnham Road recreation ground into a focal point for sport and recreation involving a purpose-built community hall was £763,000.

But changes and additions, including a £200,000 administrative office for the town council, have resulted in a “significant” rise in costs which one councillor described as “snowballing out of control”.

At the council’s meeting on Tuesday evening it was agreed to apply for permission to ask for a £500,000 local government loan – an increase of £200,000 on the original sum proposed.

Temporary town clerk Bryan Howe said there was still potential for the council to pull out of the project at this stage but that would result in considerable costs.

Councillors also passed a proposal by the mayor, Cllr Norman Hercock, to go into closed session next Tuesday to examine the latest tenders for the project which, the Free Press has been told, range from £1.1m to £1.8m.

Cllr Hercock urged members to discuss the issues in private rather than “rushing through them” at a full council meeting.

Voting against the secret meeting, finance committee chairman Cllr Terry Venner said the hearing should be in public because ratepayers should know where the money was being spent and they would be paying the interest on it.

This was backed by residents attending the meeting, who interrupted proceedings to protest at the lack of consultation, the escalation of costs for the community building and the use of council funds.

Full report in today’s Free Press.