COUNCIL leaders have been criticised over “shambolic” delays to the reopening of Didcot Civic Hall after a £13m improvement scheme.

The town council had planned to start work last October, with the reopening expected in late spring.

But preparatory work only started last week and major renovations have yet to start because the final contract has not been signed with building firm Mansell. The hall could now remain closed until September.

Ten community groups are having to meet elsewhere and the council admitted it could have to put more money into the project to get it back on track.

Groups affected since the July closure include an exercise class for pensioners and Didcot WI, whose president Daphne Gerring, 71, said: “We’re desperate to get back into the civic hall. The closure has gone on far too long.

“We’re holding our monthly meeting in St Peter’s Hall, in Newlands Avenue, and it’s a bit cramped.”

Margaret Davies, leader of the council’s opposition Labour group, said: “The council took far too long to chose a contractor after the civic hall was shut to the public.

“I think the way the scheme has been managed has been shambolic and there have been unnecessary delays.”

But leader Bill Service said the council had not signed the contract because it wanted to save a further £30,000.

He said: “I think it’s unfair to say that the management of the project has been shambolic, because the whole council has been behind the project from day one.

“We could have to take some money from our reserves, because we don’t want this to drag on.”