PROPOSALS for a massive Murder Mystery event in Bishop’s Waltham have been sent back to the drawing board.

Run by the Town Team, which works to boost trade and raise the profile of Bishop’s Waltham, the community event had been expected to take over the town centre on Saturday, May 3.

Set in the 1940s, it was hoped that Murder in Bishop’s Waltham would draw hundreds of residents into the game, which will be specifically written for the town. Any money after costs would have gone to a Bishop’s Waltham care group, such as the lunch club for the elderly.

But Cllr Terry Wilson expressed concern at how the project would be funded.

Under proposals put to the council by Cllr Robert Shields, preparation would require the parish’s meeting rooms to be lent to the organisers for on four occasions, and use of the Jubilee Hall would be free on the day of the event.

Cllr Wilson said: “Eighteen months ago we stopped providing rooms for free because demand was growing too much. The only rooms that are given for free are council events. This is not a council event. If they want to, they (the Town Team) can hire the rooms and apply for a grant by presenting accounts – but we haven’t seen any yet.

“I think we have given enough to business. We have given £5,000 to the Town Team members for this year and next and we have given £7,000 of community money to the business community, and do we get a thank you? I do not see why we should give any money to this.”

Councillors voted overwhelmingly to defer approval of the plans pending further clarification of funding.

Seven years ago the village of Cheriton hosted a similar event set in the 1920s.