PLANS for a new sports and community centre in Huddersfield have run £206,000 over budget - and Kirklees tax payers could be footing the bill.

Kirklees Council cabinet will decide on Wednesday whether to approve the extra cash for proposals to redevelop Moldgreen Amateur Rugby League FC.

The proposals for replacing the club facilities, at Ridgeway Playing Fields at Dalton, have been put forward by the Dalton Rawthorpe and Moldgreen Initiative (Dram).

Dram is a regeneration group, funded by Government cash, which works in partnership with Kirklees Council to improve needy areas.

Dram has put £634,000 towards the plans to upgrade changing facilities and playing fields, create a multi-use games area and community facilities, such as a fitness suite.

The finished centre would be called the Dram Centre and would be used by the rugby club, residents and community and young people's support services.

Local schools will be able to use the multi-use games area during the day.

It would be run by a non-profit company, with a board of directors including representatives from the rugby club, Kirklees Council, centre users and members of the local community.

Sport England has put £650,000 to the project, a local brewery is providing a loan and Kirklees Council is already providing £50,000 from its Lottery Fund.

But recent tenders received by Kirklees Design and Property Services showed the project would cost £1,630,000 - £206,000 more than expected.

A spokesman for the council said footing the £206,000 bill would secure an expensive project which the council could never afford alone.

He added that if the project does not go ahead, the council will be responsible for upgrading and maintaining the club facilities - which would cost more than £200,000.

Upgrading changing rooms alone would cost £300,000.

He said: "This is going to be a big community centre as well as a facility for the rugby club.

"So £206,000 for that, set against £300,000 for some much smaller improvements is the reasoning for us paying the money.

"If we don't put this money in, everyone walks away and we lose a £1.6m scheme."

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