POOLE councillors have agreed to submit a multi-million pound grant bid to fund conservation and improvement works at the town’s museum.

On Tuesday, members of the council backed a recommendation by its cabinet that a £2.1m request be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It was supported despite some concerns about where funding for the council’s contribution to the project would come from.

The move comes following the adoption of a new strategy for Poole Museum Service which was adopted in 2016 aimed at making the centre “a higher profile attraction”.

A report to the council said that “an enhanced museum offer” would “provide a beacon for Poole’s identity” and boost the town’s tourism sector and economy.

Concerns were raised by some councillors about a suggestion in the report that community infrastructure levy – money provided through new developments for infrastructure improvements – funds could be used to support the bid rather than being used for more localised projects.

However, Cllr John Challinor, the cabinet member for strategic commercialism and estates, said that no decision had been made on how the council would fund its part of the work.