IN the final stages of building work at the Flavel Centre, concerns have been raised by Dartmouth town council about the financial viability of the project.

The town council pledged £100,000 towards the centre and so far, in monthly payments, have donated a sum of £70,000. Devon County Council and South Hams Council along with the Regional Development Agency have also pledged money to the tune of £1.98 million.

However at this week's council meeting, councillors expressed doubts over the financial position of the centre in the light of the recent newsletter.

It stated that it is vital to continue local fundraising as money is needed for the first two years after opening to act as a buffer against any shortfall.

The mayor Cllr Richard Rendle said: 'We have concerns following the contents of the newsletter that the centre is not on budget. It implies that there must be continuous fundraising.

'When the Flavel committee came to us asking for funding we had one condition, that all other monies were in place.

'Now it would seem they have fundraising plans in place for the next two years. This takes money away from the other local causes who fundraise in the town.

'There is only a certain amount that can be given in a small town.

'The town council is committed but we want to sit down and talk to the Flavel committee.

'The Flavel Centre will be difficult to sustain in a town of this size and we, the elected councillors, expressed genuine concerns about this which we feel have been ignored. There is a limitation to what Dartmouth can sustain.'

The town council will review its financial backing of the project at a meeting on Tuesday night.

The newsletter also asked for more volunteers to join the 66 who have already signed up to help run the centre. A sprung dance floor costing £10,000 and advanced audio visual equipment costing £5,000 are on the wish list for the Flavel Centre and funds are being raised at present.

Ray Bridges, chairman of the Flavel Centre committee, said; 'We will always be fundraising. We are a registered charity running events for the community.

'We put up a business plan of £1.98 million to the council. We have that money secured but it doesn't include enhancements like the projector and things of that nature.

'This funding has been pledged to us and we received monthly payments from the organisations and we in turn pay our contractors. Of course there are spiralling costs but it has all to be contained within the initial £1.98 million. We have made savings in certain areas that won't detract from the quality.

Right now we are in the middle of a huge research program about what people want in the centre from which we are getting a massive response.

'We will be underpinning the economy. Where can people go if it's raining in Dartmouth?

'Right now the tourist centre has to send them to Paignton to the cinema, out of the town. The Flavel Centre will keep visitor here on wet days.

'I am totally baffled why the town council is not entirely happy when it has contributed such a large sum of money in support of the project. It seems to spend all its time trying to withdraw it. Perhaps they think it will undercut the present usage of the Guildhall.'

The new Flavel centre plans to keep its rent prices at the same level as the old Flavel Hall to ensure groups can afford to use the new facility.

The Guildhall cost just over £31,000 a year to run. Around £15,000 is raised from renting the hall out.

Town Clerk Chris Horan said: 'The hall is used daily and the use of it has risen consistently over the last six years. I think it will always be used. Some groups will no doubt return to the Flavel Centre like the blood donor group, but it won't make a difference.

'The two halls will work in tandem with each other. There is a place for both of them in the town.'

County Councillor for Dartmouth Jonathan Hawkins said: 'I cannot understand the town council's attitude to the Flavel centre. It is a good thing for the town and needs its support.

'Of course they will have to continue fundraising just like any other village or town hall but that shouldn't mean that the town council should suspend monthly payments.'

Exterior building work should finish in October and the building will be handed over for internal fitting out.

The new library will open on Monday, January 17. There will be a more books, comfortable seating, a children's area and a learning suite which will house eight PCs.