A PROJECT to refurbish the Campus West box office has run �100,000 over budget. Welwyn Hatfield Council is blaming the overspend on problems with the site s foundations and disruption caused by the swine flu drugs pick-up-point. The original cost for th

A PROJECT to refurbish the Campus West box office has run �100,000 over budget.

Welwyn Hatfield Council is blaming the overspend on problems with the site's foundations and disruption caused by the swine flu drugs pick-up-point.

The original cost for the contract, which began in April, was �300,000 to refurbish the box office and canopy and make it compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.

But problems with the foundations meant they were unable to support the proposed extension.

These delays were compounded by the site being used as a Tamiflu distribution centre.

A council spokeswoman said: "The project suffered minimal delays due to the ongoing use of Campus West over the summer holiday period.

"It was vital to keep the box office entrance open during this period as it was the only access route to the site and thus incurred increased traffic.

"Also, workers were interrupted by visitors seeking advice, due to confusion over appropriate entry and exit routes to the building throughout this period."

Labour leader Margaret Birleson questioned the �100,000 increase, she said: "Why didn't they get it right in the first place, that's a lot of money.