GAZETTE & HERALD: Campaigners fighting to keep the new Wiltshire History Centre in Trowbridge have warned of escalating costs for the new facility on the Chippenham livestock site in Cocklebury Road.

But Wiltshire County Council and landowners, North Wiltshire District Council, have denied claims by the Record Office Campaign spokesman David Colcomb that they are disputing a bill for new drainage from the site.

Mr Colcomb said: "Having paid out over £444,000 to lease the Cocklebury Road site for the proposed new record office, the county council is now locked in a fierce fight with the vendors, North Wiltshire District Council, over a £400,000 bill to solve major drainage problems with the site, which will double that cost.

"It was obvious to many observers, that when the county council went for the Cocklebury Road site, they bought a pig in a poke.

"They went for what they saw as the cheapest option. As any wise shopper will tell you you get what you pay for."

He said the drainage problem was just the latest hidden cost, claiming the site was ringed with hazards which meant the new building would have to be proofed against fire, explosion, noise and vibration.

"All this adds massively to the already steeply rising costs of the building."

But a spokesman for Wiltshire County Council said the cost was certainly not escalating.

"The history centre project is on time, on budget and will go-ahead as planned," he said.

"It is due to open in October 2007 at a cost of £11.6 million, £2.8 million of which will be provided by Swindon Borough Council."

David Stirling, team leader design and estates for the district council, said it was true new drainage was needed on the site, but this was a relatively minor matter and would cost around a tenth of the £400,000 suggested by the campaigners.

He said it was down to the district council to sort this out as the site was being sold fully serviced.