FUNDING difficulties will mean a delay for a multi-million pound development in Trowbridge - but council chiefs say the town will get its long-awaited cinema. Wiltshire County Council has identified a preferred developer for the Waterside development. However, there is not enough money in the kitty yet for the scheme to go ahead.

At a council cabinet meeting on Tuesday, chief executive Keith Robinson said: "We have had bids in from developers and they include some good designs and one that we think is really exceptional.

"However, this is a large and complicated development and it is important that the sums add up.

"We want to get the sort of scheme the people of Trowbridge want but we want it in a way that is good value for the site and does not fall on to the taxpayer."

Dr Robinson could not confirm the amount of money needed, but said it was small in terms of the whole development cost.

Cllr Fleur de Rhe Philip, the council's environment and transport portfolio holder, said: "This is going to be a flagship development for Trowbridge and it is therefore very important to get it right.

"I am sure Trowbridge will get its cinema but we have to get this right and that is worth a few more weeks."

A cinema for Trowbridge has been the ambition of residents and civic leaders for decades. The Waterside development, using land owned by both the county and district councils, also includes plans for a bowling alley, other leisure facilities, a new library, parking and housing.

The councils put the project out to tender to developers willing to provide what the town is asking for.

Council leader Jane Scott said: "I don't want anyone to think this means that in order to make it affordable we are going to move on the principle of what the people of Trowbridge want. The core principles of the scheme are non-negotiable."

The meeting resolved to give officers extra time to work with the developer, whose identity is not known, to work on the funding.