'Ignoring them would be a failure' - Vote on Cannock town centre regeneration lost as members speak out against theatre demolition

Several members spoke out against demolition of the Prince of Wales Theatre, which is one of the proposals included in the latest plans to transform the town centre, at the full council meeting where the Labour administration lost out on a recommendation by just one vote on Wednesday (January 21).

Other proposals in the regeneration programme update include producing a business case into creation of new town centre offices and consideration of a new “integrated cultural space”, which would enable the council to move from its current base in Beecroft Road. The Civic Centre would be demolished to make way for a major retailer.

The theatre demolition proposal, which would also require separate planning permission to proceed, came forward just weeks after the council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead for the neighbouring Forum Shopping Centre to be pulled down as part of the town centre regeneration project. 

Planning committee members were told at the meeting the theatre was not part of that demolition plan, but in December cabinet members were being asked to “agree to the inclusion of the former Prince of Wales theatre within the red line for the regeneration programme with the intention to demolish, subject to planning consent”.

At their December meeting, cabinet members agreed the updated programme. They also granted permission for £6.615m to be spent – the balance of the approved programme, comprising existing grant funding and Town Centre Investment Fund allocations.

Decisions relating to the proposed theatre demolition, Civic Centre and updated programme scope for town centre regeneration were called in for further scrutiny however by Conservative opposition group leader Councillor Olivia Lyons, supported by fellow Tory councillors Philippa Haden, Justin Johnson, Mike Sutherland and Sam Thompson. 

A second call-in of the cabinet resolutions was submitted by Green group leader Councillor Andrea Muckley and supported by councillors Liz Bishop, Jo Elson, Darrell Mawle and Labour’s Jeff Hill.

The Economic Prosperity Scrutiny Committee considered the call-ins earlier this month in a meeting which lasted more than two hours. External representatives were also invited from Cannock Chase Theatre Trust, Cannock Arts Council, Chase Arts for Public Spaces, Theatres Trust and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, as well as the area’s MP Josh Newbury.

At Wednesday’s full council meeting, all elected members present were asked to agree to update the capital programme for the regeneration works, enabling funds to be allocated. Council leader Steve Thornley said the decision to be made by the council at Wednesday’s meeting involved transferring money from one department to another.

“If it doesn’t move, the complications become huge – it’s as simple as that”, he added. “If that money doesn’t go forward, the development plan stops and a lot more important things stop; that town centre development stays exactly as it is.

“It also gives us other issues. If that money is not shifted and spent it becomes a revenue issue.

“Town centre development is taking an important step in the next four weeks. There is a development framework and development plan; it’s confidential at this time because of the commercial aspects involved, but it is very exciting.

“We are going to have a simple choice. Stick with what’s out there or we move forward and get on with the development plan and start to create a very good vision, a practical vision for this town.”

But the vote was lost however, following a lengthy debate and a brief adjournment while members considered a request put forward by Councillor Justin Johnson to delay the decision until elected members were able to see the development framework for themselves.

Speaking before Wednesday’s meeting, Councillor Lyons said: “Cabinet is asking us, as councillors, to approve changes to the Capital Programme based on the report they approved on 4 December 2025. Appendix 1 of that report now explicitly includes two highly significant proposals: the demolition of the former Prince of Wales Theatre, and the preparation of a business case to relocate the Civic Hub and council offices.

“These are not minor technical amendments. They are irreversible political decisions — and they demand scrutiny, evidence, and honesty.

“The theatre was central to the original regeneration vision for Cannock town centre — the very vision that secured Government funding in the first place. The Levelling Up Fund bid made a clear commitment – the theatre would be enhanced, not erased.

“It was intended to be a cultural and economic anchor for the town centre. Demolition is not evolution of that vision — it is abandonment of it.

“Most damning of all is Cabinet’s complete disregard for public opinion; a 20,000-signature petition, repeated deputations, and visible community passion have been brushed aside. The people we represent could not have been clearer — yet their voices have been ignored.”

Councillor Muckley said: “A decision was made 51 days after (the planning committee) was told this was not going to happen – how can we make a decision that quickly? Where are the impact assessments?

“How long has this been going on? Is it any wonder we are concerned?

“We are only going to be here for another two years (due to local government reorganisation), yet we can build new council buildings? Perhaps the bottom floor of the theatre could be used for neighbourhood offices, instead of building a whole new building.

“We have a building. Just make it fit for purpose and we can make it a multi-purpose building.”

Reform UK member Councillor Paul Jones said: “The Prince of Wales was never a side project – it’s an anchor project of the Levelling Up Fund regeneration. We are being asked to approve the demolition of the theatre – that’s not regeneration, it’s a broken promise.

“The residents have shown us their views, 20,000 people have asked us to save the theatre. Ignoring them would be a failure.”