Group set to attend council meeting in Cannock to fight for under-threat theatre

The Prosperity Scrutiny Committee meeting will look at two items which were called in from the decision made by cabinet in December to demolish the  Prince of Wales Theatre in line with the regeneration of Cannock town centre

The theatre was closed in April as part of controversial measures to close a council budget gap.

But members of the public demonstrated outside the council house at the December cabinet meeting and Cannock Chase Theatre Trust has formally been invited to present the committee details of their involvement in trying to save the Prince of Wales.  

The group put together a bid for a Community Asset Transfer, which would have enabled the trust to take on the running of the cultural venue.

 But consultants The Sport, Leisure and Culture Consultancy, who evaluated the submission, recommended the council should not proceed with the transfer. 

 David Stevenson, a member of one of the groups supporting the theatre, Save the Prince of Wales Theatre said: "This meeting will scrutinise two call-ins which challenged cabinet's December decision to demolish the Prince of Wales Theatre using Levelling Up Fund money originally allocated for cultural regeneration - not demolition.

"At the heart of this vision was the theatre, which the council’s own funding applications stated would be refurbished rather than demolished.

"The grant was specifically secured to achieve several key cultural and economic goals including the establishment of a cultural hub and transforming the theatre into a central asset for the town, plus boosting its night time economy.

"Rather than building up cultural infrastructure, £18 million of the funding is reportedly being redirected to demolish buildings to clear land for private property developers. This shift prioritises property development over the cultural regeneration promised to both the government and the community."

A statement on the group's Facebook page read: "After months of working to save our theatre - raising over £34,000, gathering more than 21,000 petition signatures, and producing detailed business plans independently assessed at 79% viability - this scrutiny process is a crucial moment.

"Two groups of councillors have formally challenged Cabinet's demolition decision. They deserve to see that the community stands with them."

They encouraged the public to attend the meeting which starts at the civic centre, Beecroft Road tonight (Wednesday) at 6pm.