THE Friends of the Winter Gardens have expressed "serious concerns" about the way the historic theatre's million pound refurbishment deal was handled.

During a passionate annual general meeting this week, members vowed to leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of the affair which has rumbled on for several years.

They claim serious questions relating to the £1.3 million deal remain unanswered and they have vowed to take it to the highest authorities if needs be - including the police.

Their concerns include new revelations that a £112,000 loan given by the council to the developer, Barnfield Construction, has yet to be repaid.

Recent revelations also suggest that Barnfield provided most if not all of the funds for the charity, BART, to purchase the theatre in 1995 with Barnfield registering a legal charge on the building.

Public and charitable funds worth a total of £1.3 million were secured to refurbish the exterior of the theatre and the contract was given to Barnfield without going through a competitive tendering process.

For years the Friends have been asking questions but neither BART or Barnfield have been willing to meet with them to allay their concerns.

In fact, moves were made to sever the Friend's involvement and the local charity was refused entry into the building to hold fund-raising events.

But this week the Friends changed their constitution to be able to take on the building in their own right and Chairman, Evelyn Archer, has spoken out.

"Until we get to the bottom of this we're going to keep on asking questions and if needs be we'll take it to higher authorities - the auditor, the Charities Commission, even the police," said Mrs Archer.

"As a ratepayer I want to know why the hard-up council isn't chasing an unpaid loan of £112,000 and the interest. I also want to know why we've been told time and time again that Barnfield's only interest in the building was as the company which refurbished the exterior. This obviously isn't the case.

"They have what amounts to a mortgage on the building. And if it was Barnfield who put up the money for BART to purchase the building is it right that they then won the contract to refurbish the exterior without a tendering process?

"We just want some answers to our important questions - that's all."

She added: "Nobody has ever sat round the table with us to explain the situation.

"We've paid out £200 in insurance just to be locked out of the building that we've been fund-raising for for the last 14 years.

"Our main concern is the future of this landmark building but how are we ever going to progress until questions are answered and this mess is cleared up?"