FEARS councillors would “forever be associated” with failure if a cinema project falls flat were revealed at a meeting of Royston Town Council this week.

Cllr Lindsay Davidson raised the concerns after enquiring how a cinema operated in the converted town hall would be run after it came to light there was no decision on how the project would operate.

She said: “I know we are a town council which prides itself on excellence. We want to set up an excellent project and we will be held to account for it whether we run it or not.

“I’m sure the linguistics of it will be lost on our residents out there and we will forever be associated with the cinema. It’s necessary for us to make sure that the cinema runs well for all our sakes.”

The town council is handling the conversion of the hall and has pledged �130,000 to it and business partnership Royston First is in charge of acquiring cinema equipment.

There is no finish date for the refurbishment and at present there is no firm plan on how it would work, but the town council would not be directly involved.

John Davison, a member of the authority’s cinema working party, told members: “It is fair to say no decision has yet been made.

“You are quite right to raise potential concerns but I wouldn’t worry about it yet.”

Monday’s meeting of the finance committee gave an update on how work to refurbish the upper level had progressed since beginning last year.

So far the condemned stage lighting and controls have been removed, old seating had been torn out and an air condition system had been installed.

Royston First has selected the cinema equipment and seating vendors, and letters of intent have been sent to agree final details and contracts to be signed.

The project was originally scheduled to be finished in March.