THE future of Goldiggers still hangs in the balance after years of planning and negotiation.

Property speculators E&J Commercial Properties failed to submit a planning application for the redevelopment of the Timber Street building by a deadline specified by owners North Wiltshire District Council.

Now Coun David Poole, who formed an unsuccessful consortium to take over Goldiggers when the nightclub closed, is calling on the district council to abandon the deal and start again.

He said: "The district council has bent over backwards for this company," he said.

"It has moved the goal posts for them every time. I think it should pull out of the deal and put the building lease back out to tender.

"E&J has not met any deadline and the council should have lost confidence in the company."

But E&J said it was confident it would have plans on the table by the end of September one month late.

District council leader Coun David Packham will discuss the matter at a private meeting of the Executive Committee tonight but he refused to be drawn on why the deadline had been extended, or if the plug would be pulled on the deal.

"It is a confidential meeting, and I will be reporting the matter to the council," he said.

Barry Jones of E&J said he was confident the planning application was getting closer.

"It's on its way," he said. "We're preparing the plans and the planning application and it should be submitted towards the end of the month there or thereabouts."

E&J said it had tenants lined up for the one-time nightclub, but remained close-lipped about their identity.

The building has been ear-marked for leisure use, but E&J negotiated for a proportion of the building to be allocated for retail use.

E&J has revealed leisure use is likely to include a theme pub, bar or restaurant.

The former Gaumont cinema has stood empty for more than two years.

It was closed in the spring of 2000 when nightclub operators Gold Leisure ran into financial difficulties.

The district council ran a public consultation to find out what the building's future should be.

The survey revealed people did not want the building to be demolished and the majority wanted it used for leisure purposes.

E&J Commercial Properties was chosen to take over the lease from a shortlist in January, but negotiations have dragged on over the months.

The building has deteriorated and in June vandals set part of the building on fire. Contracts were exchanged in May and E&J was told it had three months to submit a planning application.