A NEW development at one of Gwent's top tourist attractions will go more than £300,000 over budget.

The new visitor centre at Cwmcarn Forest Drive looked set to cost £500,000 more than planned and there was even talk of the project being abandoned before desperate savings brought the funding short-fall down to £300,000.

Caerphilly county borough council realised in June they needed more than the budgeted £1.5 million, prompting an urgent meeting to decide their next step.

The problem, officers said, was because of the two-year delay between estimating the amount they needed and actually inviting companies to send in proposals.

They put the increase in costs down to inflation during that time. Phil Davy, head of economic development, also said plans had changed during the process.

He said: "Originally it was an enhancement of the existing building but as it was developed, the design became a complete redevelopment."

The extra £300,000 will come from the European Development capital receipt fund.

Yesterday cabinet members voted to push on with the expensive project, saying abandoning it would now cost almost as much as finishing it.

Restoration would cost at least another £140,000, as the old building's roof was removed last year to prevent bats roosting in it.

It would require substantial renovation after being exposed to the weather since then.

Forced savings mean the new building will lose its exhibition space. The first floor will also be left as a shell, although officers have been told to find funding in the long term to finish the building off.

There will also be a review of the situation to establish why the project was so delayed.

Leader of the council Harry Andrews said: "The Cwmcarn Forest Drive is our most popular attraction and I believe the difficulties are justified."

The new visitor centre was planned after visitor numbers grew to 150,000 a year. This is expected to rise to 250,000 over the next few years.