GREAT Witley Operatic Group could lose more than £15,000 if the Swan Theatre opening is delayed and it has to cancel its show.

Angela Harris, a member of the amateur group, which is in rehearsals for its production of The Pirates of Penzance, said the scenery alone cost £3,000 to hire.

"Our society has budgeted to spend more than £15,000 on this show," she said.

"We have spent hundreds of pounds on posters advertising the venue as the Swan, and our costumes have been booked."

The theatre is due to re-open under the management of Chris Jaeger, director of Huntingdon Hall, at the end of April to allow the programme of amateur productions planned before the closure to go ahead.

But this will be delayed if opposition councillors decide to "call in" the cabinet's decision to put Mr Jaeger in charge. This would put the rescue package on hold for two months, while councillors scrutinise the plans - and could cause Great Witley Operatic Group's production to be postponed or even cancelled.

The cabinet will debate the issue at its meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, February 25.

Labour group leader, Councillor Adrian Gregson, claims the rescue package has been put together in secret.

He will decide whether or not to use the "call in" procedure to allow further scrutiny of the plans after the cabinet meeting.

Ms Harris asked if the group would be compensated by the council for the "huge loss" it would incur if this were to happen.

"We are insured but I do not know whether our insurance company would pay for the indecision of the council," she said.

"I feel we should be given some definite information from the council.

"It seems one day we are definitely at the Swan and the next we aren't."

"But we keep on rehearsing regardless, trying to be positive. The whole business seems to have become a clash of personalities within the council."