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| Surrey axes £5m boost to Runnymede Magna Carta plan | Surrey axes £5m boost to Runnymede Magna Carta plan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A £5m contribution to the building of a visitor centre on the site in Surrey where the Magna Carta was sealed has been axed by the county council. | A £5m contribution to the building of a visitor centre on the site in Surrey where the Magna Carta was sealed has been axed by the county council. |
| Conservative-run Surrey County Council said it was not sure the site was right or the centre would open by 2015 to mark the Magna Carta's 800th year. | Conservative-run Surrey County Council said it was not sure the site was right or the centre would open by 2015 to mark the Magna Carta's 800th year. |
| The Liberal Democrat group said the contribution had been "little more than a vanity project" for the Tory group. | The Liberal Democrat group said the contribution had been "little more than a vanity project" for the Tory group. |
| Runnymede council, which put the plans forward, has not yet commented. | Runnymede council, which put the plans forward, has not yet commented. |
| Second funding setback | |
| County councillor Helyn Clack, cabinet member for community services, said the centre had been a good idea in principle but added: "We always said we would support the project only if we were convinced there was a watertight business case." | County councillor Helyn Clack, cabinet member for community services, said the centre had been a good idea in principle but added: "We always said we would support the project only if we were convinced there was a watertight business case." |
| She said the county council was still determined to celebrate the landmark date in style and ensure Surrey received the maximum benefit from it. | She said the county council was still determined to celebrate the landmark date in style and ensure Surrey received the maximum benefit from it. |
| Liberal Democrat councillor John Orrick claimed the £5m contribution would have been the equivalent of 1% on council tax and said he believed the county council had been sold "a pig in a poke" by Runnymede. | Liberal Democrat councillor John Orrick claimed the £5m contribution would have been the equivalent of 1% on council tax and said he believed the county council had been sold "a pig in a poke" by Runnymede. |
| He said: "Many Surrey residents who would have got no benefit from the centre would have had to dig deep in their pockets to pay for what amounted to little more than a vanity project by the Conservatives at County Hall." | He said: "Many Surrey residents who would have got no benefit from the centre would have had to dig deep in their pockets to pay for what amounted to little more than a vanity project by the Conservatives at County Hall." |
| The loss of the £5m contribution is the second funding setback faced by Runnymede council. | The loss of the £5m contribution is the second funding setback faced by Runnymede council. |
| Last year, Runnymede applied for £3,843,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to build the permanent centre on the site near Staines but the bid failed. | Last year, Runnymede applied for £3,843,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to build the permanent centre on the site near Staines but the bid failed. |