A ROW has broken out between councillors that could threaten plans to build a new tennis centre at Salt Ayre.

The Lawn Tennis Association is involved in discussions with Lancaster city councillors and officers about building the centre that would cost the council up to £450,000.

Independent councillors voted against the proposal and Labour councillors voted for it at a finance committee meeting this week. In the end the councillors narrowly voted to stick with the proposal - but the final decision will be made at full council on Monday.

Deputy leader of the Independents Cllr Geoff Wilson explained: "We will consider this again but we work on the premise that you don't spend money you haven't got. Labour want to use money from the contingency fund which is supposed to be for emergencies. That's typical Labour - spend, spend, spend."

Cllr Ian Barker, Labour's Finance spokesman countered: "If we lose this chance it will not come again... the Morecambe Bay Independents believe their own propaganda so are in a blind panic entirely of their own making.

"There is no black hole in the budget. Indeed, the 5-year capital programme shows a small surplus. All that is needed is an intelligent approach to managing the cash flow over over the period. We have a capital contingency fund which would cover the extra £300,000 needed."

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