MULTI-MILLION pound expansion plans at Wrexham Museum could leave the council with financial problems, according to one councillor.
The museum is set to double in size in order to host more national exhibitions like the Mold Cape, which is coming in September.
Plans have been submitted to the planning committee for approval, with work due to start after the Mold Cape's visit.
But Liberal Democrat councillor Alun Jenkins believes the council is storing up financial trouble for the future.
'We cannot afford a bigger museum,' he said. 'Looking at our budget projection if this project goes ahead - we will be facing an overspend of £200,000 by 2009/10.
'I am not trying to pour cold water on these plans and I want Wrexham to have the best facilities but we have to be realistic and we cannot afford this.'
The museum plans include the creation of more classrooms and an extension to the main display area.
The work will initially cost £4 million, with three-quarters of that expected to come from a Heritage Lottery Fund bid.
If everything goes according to plan the museum will close in September 2006 and re-open in July 2008.
Cllr Jenkins is concerned that projected figures show a fine balance between expenditure and income from the expanded museum.
'There is no guarantee the income will match the expenditure in the way it is laid out,' he said. 'Our tight budgets are only going to get tighter and this could create a real headache for us in years to come.'
But the council's chief finance officer, Mark Owen, said: 'I am confident we can make up the money Cllr Jenkins talks about.'
Labour councillor Neil Rogers said: 'I believe with our heritage and history that we have to have a museum and it has to be one worthy of the people.'
