A north-east Scout troop has been dealt a “hammer blow” as it continues with efforts to improve its Macduff base.
Macduff Scout Group have already raised £117,000 to restore their hut on School Lane, which is falling into disrepair.
But after putting the work out to tender earlier this year, they have now discovered the project will cost £3,000 more than first anticipated.
The building is one of the oldest in the town, and the only one large enough to host the scouts and store their equipment.
Part of the scheme to save the building includes raising the roof by 31 inches, which will require overhead telephone lines to be moved – resulting in the additional cost.
Colin Buist, chairman of the Macduff Scouts, said: “We have just been dealt a hammer blow by BT.
“We were instructed by our contractor that telephone lines passing over our building would have to be redirected or at least
raised to allow us to raise our building to the height required for our second story.
“I have received a quotation from BT Open Reach for £2654.78 to complete the works required – replacing the telegraph pole and 13 communication cables that apparently also need replaced.
“I feel that BT Open Reach are unjust and unfairly jeopardising our project by making these charges payable by us for something that is surely, in my opinion, their mistake allowing communication lines to be so low and close to a roof that they need to be shifted.”
Mr Buist added that work to modernise the Scout hut was originally scheduled to start in June.
The plans include replacing the building’s asbestos roof and creating a new kitchen area.
Last night, a spokesman for BT said the Scouts’ complaint would be “fully” investigated.