LABOUR councillors refused to support plans to plough a further £2 million into Colchester’s troubled new art gallery.

The seven Labour councillors abstained from a vote – but it was passed with support from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Independents.

Labour group leader Tim Young said the project had lost their support when it was decided to put a new building on the bus station site.

He said: “I respect the views of people who thought it was a good idea, but I think they have been proved wrong. This is about a financial project and political management over the last three years.

“The Conservative members of the cabinet were at all those meetings, and to argue that they didn’t know what was happening is not true. They committed future administrations to unacceptable cost and risk with a controversial and contentious project.”

Deputy council leader Martin Hunt, who took over responsibility for the project in May, said: “I seem to be repeating the same thing over and over again.

“We don’t have a choice about doing one of the three options – if we said ‘no, that’s it’ we would still have to fork out money because of the contracts.

“The £2 million is the cheapest option and I would like to thank our other funding partners who have generously agreed to waive the consequences of the agreements.

“A year ago the cabinet made a decision to fund an extra £200,000 to the project, which they believed would be the end of the story.

“Now I’m standing here to say the same thing – if we put in more money I’m convinced it will be finished, and it must be done.”

Conservative group leader Robert Davidson said they had hired professional advisers when drawing up contracts on the project.

He said: “There was no mention of a final settlement in the cabinet papers from 2007, and that’s just one example of the lack of support and guidance we were given as an administration.

“It is an iconic building which will attract visitors to Colchester in decades to come.

“It is something we have to finish otherwise no-one will benefit from the investment.”

The £2 million equates to £2.54 on the council tax bill of every band D home in the borough.