CANTERBURY City Council has missed out on the chance to buy a £500,000 TV screen for only a quid.

A proposal to install a half-a-million pound screen in the city centre was turned down by the council's Executive committee at a meeting last night.

Had they agreed to have the free screen installed in St George's Street, the council would have had the opportunity to buy it for only £1 after the London 2012 Olympic games.

Canterbury had been identified as a prime location for one of the 30 square metre screens by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

The screen - earmarked for the site between C&H Fabrics and New Look - would have shown BBC and Olympic-related footage with locally-produced content 16 hours a day.

It would have been one of only 60 across the country and its cost would have been met entirely through sponsorship.

The council would have only had to fork out as little as £25,000 for the installation cost – and there was even a chance that could have been paid for by sponsors.

But eight of the nine Executive members failed to entertain the idea.

"It'll clutter up the street and people won't realise how intrusive it is until it's actually up," said St Stephens ward councillor Harry Cragg.

"I can see why we were chosen as we're an international city moving forward.

"But we should take it as a compliment and say 'not for us thanks'."

West Bay councillor Peter Lee was of the same opinion.

"It's not something I'd like to see installed at the moment.

"Personally my view would be just to forget it."

Seasalter councillor Jean Law was the only member in favour of the screen and was clearly dismayed at the opinions of her colleagues.

"What a load of old fuddy duddies," she said.

"I think this is a fantastic opportunity missed and I'm disappointed with the debate tonight.

"Canterbury is a city for young people with young aspirations and this is exactly what it needs.

"We should not be a city with one foot in the past."

Having told councillors they must "stand up and be counted" when considering the proposal, council leader John Gilbey said the right decision had been made.

"I'm not against the principle, but there's just nowhere to put the screen," he said.

"Old fogeys we may be, but it's probably the right decision."