VOTE: Worthing theatre faces closure – Herald exclusive
Worthing's Connaught Theatre
The Connaught Theatre could shut for good next January, The Herald can exclusively reveal.
The Assembly Hall was also at risk of closure, but the Pavilion Theatre would be upgraded, according to secret borough council reports.
Private papers revealed the historic Connaught had been judged unsustainable as a business.
Worthing Council leader Paul Yallop said very hard decisions had to be made in the face of stringent government cost cutting, but hoped a private operator would take over the Union Place venue, where a host of famous stage and screen stars began their careers.
However, if no new backers came forward, the theatre should be sold for redevelopment, according to the reports.
Ritz cinema
The adjoining Ritz digital cinema might remain open until a modern multi-screen facility was built, most probably at Teville Gate.
A second less popular option for the Connaught was to scrap plays and shows, and turn it into a full-time digital cinema, but this, too, would close if Teville Gate became a reality.
The Worthing Budgetary Advisory Group minutes stated: The leader expressed (the view) that the Connaught Theatre is not sustainable as a business, despite trying a variety of things over a number of years, and was not in support of maintaining it as a cinema.
Option one is to declare its proposed closure in January, 2012, and seek any expressions of interest, giving a deadline and offering a general information pack but no further support to interested parties.
If no credible proposal is received then the building should be closed and sold for redevelopment.
Pavilion improvements
This had been supported by group chairman Alan Rice, who told the Herald: At the moment, I cannot comment. I havent seen the minutes yet.
A further report, entitled The Future of Leisure and Cultural Facilities in Worthing, suggested an improved Pavilion Theatre with 1,000 tiered seats, better acoustics, and a fly-tower.
It warned: The assumption for the Assembly Hall is that an alternative use is found as soon as possible for this venue. The timing of close-down would depend on this.
The assumption for the Ritz is that this will continue to operate as a digital cinema, either in conjunction with the Connaught, or stand alone until a multiplex is provided elsewhere by the private sector.
If no credible proposal is received for the Connaught, then the building should be closed and sold for redevelopment (should we demolish?).
Leisure centres
The report, by John Thorpe, the councils executive head of leisure and cultural services, also considered the future of other leisure venues, including Davison Leisure Centre and Field Place.
Davison could be handed back to West Sussex County Council and Davison High School.
Options for Field Place included total closure and sale of the site, or a partial sale and redevelopment.
Mr Yallop said the theatres cost taxpayers more than 1.2 million a year to keep open.
He said there had been local interest in taking over the Connaught, adding: We are looking at theatre provision and we need to do less but better. The general feeling is, with the size of the budget cuts, we cannot afford to do all we are doing. Its just not sustainable.
A petition has been launched to save the theatres at www.saveworthingtheatres.co.uk (see external link to the top left of the screen).
Have your say
Do you think theatres and leisure services should receive public funding during this tough economic climate?
Vote yes or no in the voting panel to the top right of this story.
How important are Worthings theatres to the vitality of the town?
When did you last use a publicly-funded leisure facility in Worthing?
Why should tax-payers subsidise leisure services?
Share your views by commenting below. It is easy to sign in to add your opinion. Just click on sign in and use your Facebook, Google, Hotmail or Yahoo! account.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Worthing
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South west
