Council makes decision over fate of Staffordshire theatre and museum

A meeting of the full council at Cannock Chase Council HQ saw the draft General Fund Budget and Capital Programme set at £15,809m between 2024-2028 and approved.

It will see the theatre and the Museum of Cannock Chase in Hednesford potentially be closed in April unless someone comes forward to save them

The meeting heard council leader Tony Johnson say it was with 'immense regret ' that they had to take the course of action to save money.

He said talks were being held with community interest companies to save both venues.

An alternative budget was proposed by the Green Party which would see £100,000 used from leisure funds to put into the venues. 

Another alternative budget was proposed from the opposition Conservative Party - both were voted out.

Green Party leader Andrea Muckley said: "The narrative is that it is ok the museum and the theatre will be lost because we are paying a subsidy for them, we are not we are paying a contract.

"The night time economy in Cannock will suffer by the closure of the theatre and the museum is visited by 6,000 school children a year. They and future classes will miss out on a valuable educational resource."

Councillor Johnson said Cannock Chase MP Josh Newbury had been talking to Alex Norris, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Growth and Local Democracy and he was hopeful funds could be found from the Levelling Up Fund to help towards saving the Prince of Wales

Councillor Johnson  said again they were in talks with 'all interested parties' and would work tirelessly towards a solution.