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Theatre watchdog joins Futurist fight
THE Theatres Trust has entered the fight to save the Futurist.
In a strongly worded letter to Scarborough Council’s chief executive Jim Dillon, a copy of which has been passed to the Evening News, the theatre watchdog’s planning and heritage advisor Mark Price says the organisation is “surprised and disappointed” that it has not been involved in discussions about the theatre’s future.
Mr Price has also asked that the Theatres Trust be given a place on the council’s new task group, which was set up to consider the future of the Foreshore theatre.
He adds that the Futurist is included on the Trust’s Theatre Buildings at Risk register and is likely to be re-rated as “High Risk” when the trust releases its list of the country’s most threatened theatre buildings in June.
The letter states: “Given our involvement with your local authority in the past, and as the national advisory public body for theatres, we are surprised and disappointed that you have not involved the Theatres Trust over our views on the future of the building.”
Pro-Futurist campaigner Patricia David said: “I think the involvement of the Theatres Trust is fantastic, I think it’s exactly what we’ve been looking for.
“The council cannot make a unilateral decision simply because they own the land. There are a lot more issues involved here.”
Jim Dillon, the council’s chief executive, said: “We have received the letter from the Trust and are making arrangements to meet up with them in accordance with their request.”
Janet Jefferson, Scarborough’s cabinet member for tourism and culture, said: “The position on the Futurist is that no decision has been taken as yet. The Futurist is a valid economic asset for the town and is highly regarded throughout the country. All aspects will be taken into consideration by the Task Group.”
Members of the task group are former council culture chief Cllr David Jeffels, Cllr Ros Fox, the theatre’s ward councillor, Cllr Pat Marsberg and Clllr Geoffrey Evans. The decision to invite members of the public to join the group will be made by its members, who had their first meeting in private on Thursday February 18.
The council has revealed the task group will be holding two open public meetings in late April/early May, with recommendations being made to the scrutiny committee in July.
Speaking at a meeting of Scarborough’s Chamber of Trade, David Archer said the council is expecting to have reached its decision about the venue by September.
Mr Archer, the council’s strategic director, said: “I am not here to tell you all what will happen to the Futurist, I am here to explain to you the arrangements the council is putting in place to reach its decision about what will happen to the Futurist.
“The one thing the council are adamant about is that the review into the future of the Futurist will be carried out in a very transparent fashion.”
During the meeting, which was called by the chamber in order for them to air their questions and concerns about the theatre with the council, Mr Archer explained the task group will be drawing on the opinions both of market experts and Scarborough people before reaching their conclusion.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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