LEISURE chiefs want to spend hundreds of thousands more to develop its sea city museum project ahead of a vital decision on a lottery grant next year.

They warn £375,000 more is needed now for consultants, designers, surveyors and lawyers or they won’t be able to complete the museum in time for a centenary Titanic exhibition in April 2012.

Southampton City Council will vote next Wednesday to approve the spending on further “development work” towards the £15m heritage centre and expanded art gallery at the Civic Centre.

The project has already received £500,000 in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a bid for a further £4.5m will be submitted later this month for a decision in March.

Tory council chiefs have delayed a proposed sale of a painting by Alfred Munnings and a sculpture by Auguste Rodin to raise £5m towards the scheme.

The sale will only go ahead in the second half of next year if alternative funding can still not be found.

Opposition councillors will back a motion next week insisting alternative sources of funding are used.