QUESTIONS need to be answered as to why a crisis hit £14 million Powys County Council  (PCC) flagship scheme is still not open?

And why a college could be placed there?

Brecon’s Y Gaer (Welsh for Fortress) cultural hub is the redevelopment of the Grade II* listed Shire Hall and construction of a new modern library was supposed to open this spring.

The escalating costs of the project has seen it rise from £9 million to £14 million.

PCC says that that it could become a campus for NPTC (Neath Port Talbot College and Coleg Powys) colleges.

It is expected that this proposal could be discussed at the July 30 meeting of PCC’s cabinet.

Local County Councillors are now saying that they have  lack of confidence in the scheme’s handling and are concerned that it could be just handed over to the private sector.

Labour group leader Cllr Matthew Dorrance (St John Ward) said:  “Residents have been promised a flagship cultural hub for years. We’ve supported this project and waited patiently.

“Given the long wait and the significant overspend, it’s really disappointing that we still don’t know when Y Gaer will open its doors or what it will actually be when it does finally open.”

“How can our community have confidence in the cabinet when they don’t appear to know what they’re doing?

“As a matter of urgency the cabinet must meet key stakeholders and local Councillors to answer questions about the future of Y Gaer.”

Cllr David Meredith (Labour Brecon St David Within Ward) added: “The community has supported the council on the understanding that we’d be getting a state of the art facility made possible because of funding from the Lottery, private fundraising and the Welsh Government.

“The council looks set to hand all that over to a private business.

“We don’t have any assurances about what that means for the council or the community.

“We’ve backed this project because we believed it would help regenerate Brecon so the Cabinet must answer questions about their intentions.”

PCC corporate director for the economy and environment Nigel Brinn said: “We ask residents to be patient for a little longer, we are confident that Y Gaer will be worth the wait.

“We are exploring exciting partnership opportunities with Brecon Beacons College, part of NPTC Group of Colleges to expand the range of potential opportunities for the community delivered from the building.”

Mr Brinn said: “By working with the college we have an opportunity to create  a truly unique facility for Powys.

“While no final decisions have been made our discussions have been productive.”

The NPTC’s  site in the town is the former Coleg Powys campus at Penlan, near Brecon High School.

A spokesman for NPTC said:”This is a very exciting opportunity to support  what can only be described as an unparalleled facility for the community.”