Tenants have yet to be found for a £250,000 Angus development designed to take advantage of the county’s role in the Commonwealth Games.
Weeks before the Glasgow games holds shooting events at nearby Barry Buddon, work is ongoing on a beach caf at Carnoustie Leisure Centre.
Construction is expected to finish by the time Barry Buddon Shooting Centre hosts 2,000 spectators and athletes every day between July 25 and 29 but fears have been expressed the building may become a “white elephant”.
The council has confirmed no tenant is in place for the building but is “confident” of finding one, while local independent councillor Brian Boyd said he hopes the project will not become a monument to a lack of forward planning.
The centre revamp, approved by councillors in November without a business plan or prospective occupant, was described as either a “serendipitous” development or a “pet project” by some elected members.
Mr Boyd said more time should have been taken on a business plan to prove the project’s worth, adding: “As I sit on the council’s capital projects group, I am only too aware how hard it will be for the cash-strapped council to keep all its properties either fit for purpose or remaining open.
“At a time when we know we should have been improving what we have, we actually increased the council’s property portfolio.
“I still believe this quarter of a million would have been better spent improving what the town actually needs original council-owned buildings being improved so they are fit for purpose.”
Shepherd Commercial is advertising the caf to be “operational mid-July 2014 for Commonwealth Games at Barry Buddon”.
The advert states: “Our clients are seeking leasing proposals, and trading is expected to commence to coincide with the 2014 Commonwealth Games at Barry Buddon.”
A council spokeswoman said: “We are confident that this advert will attract interest to allow us to conclude a contract and have comfort in the fact that the planned reception towards the end of July can be delivered by external contractors if there are any delays in appointing a franchise at Carnoustie.”