INVERCLYDE’S flagship Beacon Arts Centre is facing a £1.5m cash crisis just as it gets into the Christmas panto spirit.

Cinderella has just opened, but the clock is believed to be ticking towards a crucial deadline for the venue to meet a long-standing bill from the company which built the award-winning £10 million theatre and entertainment complex.

Graham Construction have apparently refused to back down over £1.5 million owed because of alleged changes made to building specifications while the work was being carried out.

It’s understood the Beacon doesn’t have the money to pay the bill, and is now approaching financial backers in a bid to come up with the cash.

Inverclyde councillors will discuss the issue behind closed doors at a special policy and resources committee today.

The cash-strapped council is already facing major financial challenges but councillors may decide to act because they do not want to see the Beacon possibly going into administration and closing.

Creative Scotland, a public body which supports the creative industries and distributes funding from the Scottish Government, is one of the Beacon’s main backers.

A spokesperson did not promise any emergency cash aid, but said: “Creative Scotland has invested £2.7 million in the development of the Beacon, and we are delighted they have been successful in securing regular funding of £600,000 over the next three years to deliver a high quality programme of activities for the area.

“We are therefore in regular contact with both the Beacon and Inverclyde Council.” The Tele also approached the council and the Scottish Government for comment.

The council said: “There is expected to be an update at the policy and resources committee, but there is no more detail available at the moment.” And a spokesperson for the Scottish Government added: “The Scottish Government looks to Creative Scotland for investment in Scotland’s arts, screen and creative industries. The Beacon has received £2.7 million towards its development from Creative Scotland, and will receive a further £600,000 over the next three years to deliver activities for local communities.” No comment was available from Graham Construction, a national company with offices around Britain.

The Beacon also declined to comment.

Its former chairman, Donald McRae, previously told the Tele that Greenock Arts Guild, which runs the venue, was in talks over Graham’s ‘final account’, but insisted this was simply normal practice.

Despite this acknowledgement of the talks, Graham Construction have always publicly denied there is any disagreement.