TORY councillors who signed the original contract with the sacked builders of Colchester’s Visual Arts Facility are being urged to apologise for doing so.

A report has detailed “appalling” errors in the construction of the art gallery, off the High Street.

Colchester Council has already sued the project’s original builders and is now considering spending £500,000 on action against project management consultant Turner and Townsend.

The council won its case against Banner, but is unlikely to see any money, because the firm has since gone into administration.

Tim Young, leader of the Labour group, which now shares power on the council, was critical of the former Conservative administration.

He said the Tories should have set a strict timetable and budget for Banner to follow. Mr Young explained: “This firm was simply not up to the job. The standards of workmanship were absolutely appalling.

“I think the councillors responsible for approving this project and the initial, flawed handling of it, should hold their hands up and apologise to the people of Colchester.”

Mr Young said his party had opposed the plan from the outset as over-ambitious, grandiose and unwanted. He added: “It is a millstone which will hang around the necks of Colchester’s taxpayers for many years to come.”

The project is now years behind schedule and millions of pounds over budget.

However, Tory leader Kevin Bentley dismissed the comments as “political point scoring”.

He added: “This will be a great project for Colchester and we need to move on with it as quickly as possible. Some people have been opposed from the outset. I respect their views, but it hasn’t helped.

“This is not just an art gallery. It is for the whole community to use for a range of purposes in the same way the Weston Homes Community Stadium isn’t just about football.

“Politics is about the short-term work of emptying bins and filling in potholes, but it’s also having the long-term vision to do things to improve the borough in the future, which I believe this will.”