Sutton’s controversial town centre is rapidly becoming a money pit after it was revealed another £1.5m could be spent on it.

Sutton Council is seeking £1.59m from the Mayor of London’s office to turn Sutton from a “clone town” into a “home town”.

Despite spending way over the £3.1m budget for recent town centre improvements, councillors want more money to spend on the High Street.

In an application for the Mayor’s Outer London Fund, called the Journey to a Successful Sutton, the council said it needed money to build a permanent stage in Trinity Square and a “totem pole-style station sign”.

New signs will be erected to “show off all Sutton has to offer”, along with maps similar to those in central London.

Other parts of the bid include opening the side entrance to Sutton station and moving the taxi rank to the back of the station; offering grants to shops to improve their frontage; putting “pop up shops” in vacant spaces and the creation of a green sustainable market.

Other proposals include improve landscaping and new street furniture outside Quadrant House.

The moves to spend more money on the High Street are likely to prove unpopular after the debacle over the previous High Street improvements.

Sutton Council recognises the concerns in the risk register section of the report admitting: “There is a risk the public may object to further money being spent in Sutton after the recent refurbishment.”

An internal report into the £3m refurb in April this year, showed how the council had failed to oversee the project, lost records including £202,000-worth of consultancy work, and ignored access concerns from disability groups.

Taxpayers were left to foot a bill of more than £300,000 for overspends on the project and there has been a number of compensation claims after members of the public have suffered injuries after falls on the new High Street.

Tony Shields, Conservative Councillor, said the council had not learned its lesson from the redevelopment, which saw £750 wooden animals appear on the High Street.

He said: “The mayor should be very careful before he gives any more money to the High Street, as we all know the delivery and management of the last redevelopment was nothing short of appalling.

“We’re still paying the compensation for all the trips and slips the last redevelopment has caused, so this is the last thing we need.”

Councillor Jayne McCoy, Sutton Council’s economic redevelopment spokeswoman, said: “The bid has been put forward with the Sutton Traders’ Forum and is supported by everyone from the Sutton Chamber of Commerce and English Heritage to Reed Business Information and EcoLocal, who recognise how important it is to have a Successful Sutton.

“Lessons have been learned from the town centre refurbishment. It is estimated we will receive financially the least benefit from Crossrail of all the outer London boroughs so it is vital we get our fair share of this fund so we can accelerate economic recovery and advance job opportunities.”

Shoppers in the High Street gave their opinion on the plans.

Vicki Jolly, 49, said: “I’m not confident the council will spend the money wisely, but things definitely need to improve. The empty shops look disgusting.”

John Scanlon, 41, Friends Life employee from Sutton, said: “I really enjoyed the summer performances in the town centre so I think the stage is a good idea. Sutton could definitely do with a facelift.”

Karl Houghton, 34, an employee at Lexus Nexus in Quadrant House said: “Opening up the side entrance to the train station would make my life a lot easier. It is very congested at the station on a morning.”

Mark Kennedy said: “People can come outside the station and know we’re here, waiting to take them wherever they need to go. If we were moved, it would be unsafe.”