AN inquiry is being called for following the discovery of vital documents which shed new light on the £1.3 million Winter Gardens deal.

Leading councillors have asked the authority's chief executive, Mark Cullinan, to launch a formal enquiry into the refurbishment of the landmark theatre after reading copies of documents from 1995 in which the council agreed to a £112,000 loan.

They say the council must act now and hold an inquiry before the public take the matter to the auditor which, like Blobbygate, could end up costing the authority money.

And news of an inquiry has been warmly received by the Friends of the Winter Gardens, who are currently preparing an objection for the district auditor.

Their chairman, Evelyn Archer, said: "An inquiry is long overdue."

The new document reveals that the council agreed to give a £112,000 start up loan to the old buildings charity, BART, and construction company, Barnfield, only if the money was not used "as a contribution towards the cost of acquiring the Winter Gardens."

But, at the request of BART and Barnfield, a supplementary agreement signed by the then town clerk waived this clause leaving them free to use the money to purchase the building.

Why this important clause was waived and who authorised it is a mystery but it does raise serious questions about how the original deal was done.

Calling for an inquiry, Cllr Tricia Heath said: "I have been asking questions about the Winter Gardens and the finances for its phased restoration for many months now. The truth still proves elusive. Every request I get seems on the one hand to be less than complete and on the other to raise still more questions.

"Was the loan used to help buy the Winter Gardens? What correspondence is on file? We can't afford another district auditor inquiry. We need to be clear about what's gone on before we can move forward to secure a future for this very important building."

Speaking on behalf of the Friends, Evelyn Archer, said: "I'm pleased the council is doing something - it's long overdue. Since the first phase finished we've been asking questions

"The Friends have constantly been shunned and told things that later we've discovered are incorrect."