Visitors itching for a look around Maidstone Museum’s controversial new extension will have to wait a bit longer.

The completion date for the prestigious £3.7m project has slipped again – as well as the cost.

Construction company Morgan Sindall has asked for a further extension to the contract, with a completion date of October 21 now scheduled.

The 52-week contract has already been extended once -– the initial opening was supposed to be in the summer.

But perhaps of greater concern to the town’s electors will be who picks up the bill.

Unexpected and unspecified difficulties in completing the work are, according to one well-placed source, said to add an extra £1/2m to the cost.

Maidstone council, architects Hugh Broughton and the construction company Morgan Sindall are currently in negotiation about whose fault that is and met at the St Faith’s Street site on Wednesday.

Roger Adley, spokesman for Maidstone council, said: "The contractors have asked for an extension of time and this will result in an overspend. There are ongoing negotiations on that. It is a contractual matter and we are looking at our exposure to any overspend.

"It is too early to say how much more it will cost the council and it is not in the public interest to speculate on the amount."

For the full story read this week's Kent Messenger - out today.