ABERYSTWYTH’S new bandstand cost almost £1.4m to construct — half a million pounds more than the council originally estimated, documents seen by the Cambrian News show.

The Cambrian News can reveal WB Griffiths & Son Ltd, of Haverfordwest, was paid £1,384,756.66 by Ceredigion County Council for the reconstruction of the popular promenade attraction.

This represents almost £500,000 more than the council’s initial estimate of £900,000, and £185,000 more than its revised cost estimate of £1.2m.

Ceredigion County Council was asked to confirm whether it recognised the figure, but the council refused to comment, instead submitting a freedom of information request on the paper’s behalf without being asked to do so.

When challenged on its insistence on using freedom of information legislation, which the requester should specifically ask for, the council said it would be “unwise” to comment until the conclusion of the information commissioner’s investigation.

The information commissioner’s office is currently investigating following a freedom of information request by the Cambrian News on the council’s refusal to reveal the final cost of the bandstand.

A Ceredigion County Council spokesperson said: “As the Cambrian News knows full well, a similar request for information on the bandstand costs is being considered by the Information Commissioner’s Office. It would therefore be unwise for Ceredigion County Council to make any further response on this matter until the ICO has completed her investigation.”

But the figure can be revealed by the Cambrian News after inspecting the council’s accounts under the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004.

See the full story in this week’s south edition