COUNCILLORS have their “fingers crossed” after giving another £1.1million towards the controversial Visual Arts Facility, it is claimed.

A full meeting of Colchester Council yesterday agreed to put the cash towards fitting out the interior of the building in the hope a legal battle against former builder, Banner Holdings, will see it win £1.3million back.

It is understood the arts facility’s other major funders, Essex County Council and the Arts Council, have made similar arrangements totalling several million pounds.

But both organisations say they cannot yet reveal how much each has agreed to put forward.

The coalition in charge of Colchester Council is split on the Vaf, with Lib Dems and independent councillors saying it needs to be finished, while Labour councillors abstain on any decision involving extra cash for the troubled project.

Tim Young, leader of Colchester Council’s Labour group, described the move as a “fingers-crossed” decision.

Lib Dem group leader Martin Hunt said the Vaf was a “red line” where the coalition partners agreed to disagree.

But he added: “If we don’t actually put this money into the project now, presumably the alternative is to mothball, and it will cost more to get it finished.”

The Tories have supported the Lib Dems on the issue.

Conservative deputy leader Dennis Willetts compared the Vaf to the Jumbo tower and the Town Hall itself, saying both were controversial when they were built.

He said: “I think in ten years people will look at the Vaf and ask what was all the aggravation about.”

Essex County Council leader Peter Martin said: “Essex County Council is committed to working with the other funders to ensure funding is in place for the Vaf to be completed.”

Arts Council spokesman Annalise Cunild said: “We are working to ensure the funding package for the completion of the Vaf is in place.”

Last month, Colchester Council was boosted in its efforts to get an estimated £2million payback, after an adjudicator found it was justified in cancelling its contract with Banner Holdings.

But the firm, which is claiming £1.3million for wrongful dismissal, did not accept the finding and plans to take the council to a court hearing in November.