Kingston Theatre will get another £250,000 of public money to secure its fit-out, but the leader of Kingston Council has promised the purse strings are now closed.

The figure is £50,000 more than was announced just two weeks ago by the ruling Liberal Democrats and combines with £480,000 of savings which have seen the fittings of the new theatre downgraded.

The news came after a trio of meetings last week. The executive approved the money on Tuesday, the decision was scrutinised on Wednesday and was rubber stamped by executive on Thursday.

Opposition councillors expressed concern at the accounting methods which gave little warning of the shortfall, but they agreed that such a small sum could not be allowed to curtail the whole theatre project.

Tony Knights, Kingston Council's retired head of finance and director of the company set up to run the fit-out programme, said delays in 2004 had added to the cost, meaning £250,000 extra was needed to complete the work, despite £480,000 of savings being found.

Money was shaved from the fittings and fixtures budget and from the studio theatre, but the savings were still not enough. Toilet fixtures will be less expensive, oak-finish flooring will be changed to cheaper wood and exhibition lighting will have to be shared between the studio gallery and main foyer.

Mr Knights said: "All the information we have suggests that we can contain the work within the £250,000. I can't make any guarantees; all we can do is monitor it as best we can."

Councillor Derek Osbourne, leader of the council, said the £250,000 would be the last money council taxpayers spend.

In a fairly uncontentious meeting, the loudest voice of dissent came from Labour Councillor Steve Mama, who said: "What we are not facing up to is what follows after they have finished the job. We have not seen business plans, we do not know what they are assuming about take up.

"There are questions that remain unanswered. What I'm opposed to is not knowing what happens in a year if the theatre cannot pay for itself."

But the Conservative opposition was more sympathetic to the financial plight, agreeing the sum was small in overall terms.

Councillor Howard Jones, leader of the opposition, said: "We find the significant downgrading of quality of fixtures and fittings has been made to contain further cost increases.

"We have repeatedly said to whoever would listen that we consider the theatre in a positive way. But we have always said from day one that we would not put public money into the theatre."

Lucy Goldsborough, director of marketing, said: "It was good to know that the scrutiny panel want it to succeed as much as we do. It's not that it's going to be downgraded, it's still going to be very elegant and comfortable."

  • For more news about the Rose of Kingston or to find out how you can get involved in the fundraising campaign click here