AMBITIOUS plans for a flagship visitors' centre at Drakewalls have been scrapped in favour of a cheaper construction after budget costs soared. Calstock parish councillors expressed anger and disappointment after it was revealed that work on the Tamar Valley Centre — which was all set for imminent construction at the site of the former Drakewalls Mine — would be delayed until later in the year. Cornwall County Council, which is heading the project, is now in a race against time to draw up new plans, secure planning permission and build the centre before the Objective 1 funding deadline next June. Project manager Chris Hariades told the parish council last week that the project budget had escalated to more than £1-million when it was originally costed at £750,000. The project team were now looking at ways of trimming the costs which included moving the building slightly to the north where excavation costs would be reduced and simplifying the construction. But there was criticism from local councillors who claimed the plans had been over-ambitious for the money that was available and now the whole project was 'up in the air'. The aims of the scheme, which has been in the pipeline for the last seven years, are to provide a gateway visitors' centre to the Tamar Valley of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the recently designated World Heritage Mining Landscape of Cornwall and West Devon. It is expected to create jobs, boost tourism and provide a much-needed office for the parish council and Calstock Parish Archive. It forms part of the £2.1-million East Cornwall Regeneration Project which also seeks to consolidate mine buildings at Hingston Down, Drakewalls, Prince of Wales at Harrowbarrow and Holmbush, provide trails and improve access. Cllr Godfrey Smale said he was extremely disappointed that 'professional people had put in plans that were well above the funding that was available'. 'If the design had been done to fit the budget then we would not be in this position,' he said. 'We have tried to help on whatever was needed to get the project started in February this year. 'We need someone in charge of this job or it will be a recipe for disaster. One day it's the Tamar Valley Service, the next it's the county council and someone else the next day. We need a manager in charge to make sure it sticks to the timetable.' Cllr Dulcie Stephens said this project had all been 'promises, promises': 'It's been a sheer waste of time, money and energy — it's jobs for the boys and costing the taxpayers money.' The decision to build on the side of a spoil heap was not a good idea in the first place, added Cllr Mike Greenwood, because of the excavation costs and problems with contamination. Cllr Rachel Puddiphatt said it was important the design of the building was not compromised or the parish could end up with an 'ugly white elephant'. Chris Hariades reassured councillors that the centre would still go ahead and a reasonable building could be constructed with £750,000. But work would not start until August, possibly September. 'A simpler construction will reduce the time it takes to build it,' he said. 'The deadline to use the funding from Objective One is June 2008 but we are hoping if we can spend some of the money before that time we can continue and complete the building afterwards.'