PLANS to revamp PetersfieldÕs Festival Hall have been branded a Òcomplete waste of public moneyÓ and questions have been raised about ÒthespianÓ town councillorsÕ involvement in the project.

Petersfield town councillor Aaron Baird attacked the councilÕs £20,000 plans to overhaul the theatreÕs sound system at a public halls committee meeting last week.

He said: ÒIn my view it is a complete waste of public money,Ó and added, ÒI do not want to be associated with it.Ó

Mr BairdÕs outburst stunned members of the committee and chairman, Ken Hick, halted Mr Baird before he could expand on his statement.

Mr Hick said Òthat is your opinionÓ and explained that the meeting had been called to form a working party to evaluate quotes for the project.

After the meeting, Mr Baird told The Herald that he thought the improvements were Òcompletely over the topÓ.

He said: ÒI think they have gone for a very expensive specification. It is not the Royal Albert Hall we are talking about. They have not considered the alternatives that could still give them the improvements they require.

ÒThe specification is completely over the top for the venue. They could do it possibly for as little as £3,000.Ó

He added that the council should be turning its attention to other issues: ÒThere are more important things, collectively as a town council, we could be focussing on Ð crime, litter and vandalism, that is the stuff that will make people happy.Ó

And Mr BairdÕs comments were not the only headache for Mr Hick during the stormy public halls meeting that lasted just minutes.

Councillors who are members of theatrical groups using the Festival Hall had their involvement in the decision making process called into question.

Paul Malloy said: ÒPerhaps members who are on theatrical groups should declare a prejudicial interest.Ó

Had Mr MalloyÕs view on prejudicial interests been adopted by the public halls committee in February, then a decision on the plans might not have been reached Ð five of the six members had to declare an interest as members of theatrical groups.

A councillor declaring a prejudicial interest on an issue must leave the chamber during the debate and cannot vote on

the matter. Mr Hick had declared a personal interest on the issue as a member of Petersfield Operatic Society, which regularly stages productions at the hall.

It was proposed that Mr Hick chair the working party but Mr Molloy said he would not be happy with that.

He said: ÒI believe that you are too close to be chairman, with all due respect.Ó

But Mr Hick said there was no question of his interest being prejudicial.

On Monday night it was agreed that Mr Malloy would chair the working party.

Both Mr Malloy and Mr Baird were returned as councillors at MayÕs elections and were not members of the council when the green light was given to the Festival Hall revamp plans earlier this year.

And it is not the first time the plans, prompted by complaints from the Winton Players, have come under attack.

Andy Owen, a prominent sporting figure in the town, was outraged by the decision to spend £20,000 upgrading the Festival Hall.

Mr Owen said at the time: ÒIt is quite amazing that complaints from thespian groups are acted upon with speed and vigour, while those from sporting bodies are brushed quietly under the table. WouldnÕt it be nice if all the elements that the town council is responsible for be brought up to the same level before enhancements are made in just one area.Ó

Plans to upgrade the hallÕs 15-year-old sound system, including a new mixing desk, microphones and loudspeakers, have been on the table for the last four years.

Prompted by a complaint from the Winton Players, the town councilÕs public halls committee agreed in 1999 to earmark £5,000 a year for the upgrades.

Earlier this year it was agreed to push ahead with the project and The Green A Team, who provide sound and lighting for many productions at the hall, were asked to write a specification for the works.

It has been approved, and the working party of four councillors evaluated the quotes on Monday night.