Another cloud has been cast over ambitious plans to build three new secondary schools in North Wiltshire, including one in Wootton Bassett.

Although the building contracts have been initialled, no final agreement has been signed.

The documents should have been completed in March but since then there have been a series of delays and disputes.

Wiltshire county council is prepared to conclude its deal with the White Horse Education Partnership (Group Four and Bilfinger and Berger).

But now the contractors have come back to the negotiating table asking for an increase in the basic annual payment.

County councillors were told only last month that the £150 million plan to build the schools had been approved at virtually every stage.

It is the latest in a series of threats to Wootton Bassett having a new school. There has already been a series of financial and planning wrangles.

Council leader Coun Peter Chalke (Con Salisbury St Mark) issued a blunt message to the consortium.

"I want to put real pressure on them now. I think this is just a try on," he said.

He claimed the whole affair was becoming a debacle as the fine details had been negotiated and the council had been as flexible as it could.

The consortium involved in the project was allowed to move onto the Chippen-ham site ahead of the final signatures at its own risk. Work is now well underway and the premises are due to open by the September 1, 2001 deadline.

The schools at Malmesbury and Wootton Bassett are scheduled to open for the spring term in January 2002 but that date is now looking gravely in doubt.

The new Wootton Bassett school will rise partly in what are currently the grounds of the present one.

Opposition leader Coun Philip Allnatt (Lib Dem Chippenham Town) said: "If this goes pear-shaped now it will put a further burden on the budget. Conserv-atives say this will fall on the education budget but my group say it must come from the corporate pot."

Coun Chalke said whatever the outcome he did not intend reopening negotiations with the governors.