ASHFORD council has spent more than £80,000 on legal fees as part of protracted efforts to resolve alleged breaches of contract over delays to the re-building of the Stour Centre.

The council, which disclosed the sum in response to a Freedom of Information request made by the Kentish Express newspaper, part of the KM Group, said the bill for external legal advice and possible legal action over the re-development of the town's leisure centre could rise still further.

But it refused to release details of what action was likely and declined to say why it had sought advice about whether it could recover any money caused by delays to the long overdue project, which at £17million, is £5million over budget and 18 months late.

It is common practice for councils to insert penalty clauses into contracts which mean that companies can face financial penalties and sanctions if they fail to meet agreed deadlines.

In a statement, Ashford council leader Paul Clokie (Con) said: “The council has made financial provision in the current year for legal fees in respect of the Stour Centre project. At this stage we are unable to say whether the sum allocated will be sufficient and much depends on the course of action to be taken. Our current priority is to ensure the new facility is opened on September 15. Once this happens a decision will be taken at that time on the basis of best possible legal advice as to what course of action we should take.”

We asked how much the council had spent on legal advice relating to disputes over delays and other alleged contractual breaches and why the advice was sought.

The council’s response showed that since December 2005, it had spent £81,680 on legal advice. However, it withheld details of why it had sought advice on the grounds it could compromise future litigation.

Last week, the council revealed it had borrowed £4million to cover rising costs on the leisure centre.