Greens today called for urgent action to provide the 500-seat temporary theatre venue in Redhill centre that was promised in November.
They also demanded that ‘concrete plans’ for refurbishment are fast-tracked after a ‘promise’ by Reigate & Banstead Council last night (January 9) to ring-fence £10 million of council reserves for the work. This pledge was made in a special scrutiny meeting secured by the Greens.
In robust council discussions last night Green councillors highlighted the lack of any timescales, even to bring forward costed plans for refurbishment and concerns that the promised work may still never happen. They also challenged the disingenuous quote in the report that the recent public consultation was not representative, exposed as untrue by Cllr Victoria Chester’s advance question to the meeting.
Cllr Victoria Chester (Green, Horley East and Salfords) says: “It’s encouraging that the council has now committed to refurbishing the Harlequin. But we have seen in the past how the council has been unwilling to follow up this kind of grand gesture with tangible action. The £30 million promised three years ago for affordable housing – which has still not been delivered – is a case in point.
Cllr Chester adds: “Alternative provision on this scale is costly, but so is failing to provide adequate support to our local theatre industry – there’s a danger that if this procrastination continues we may not have an arts community left to build a theatre for.”
Cllr Jonathan Essex (Green, Redhill East) comments: “The Council must now commit to spend some of the £10 million promised on a temporary 500-seat venue in Redhill and move apace with refurbishment plans, which still have not a penny committed after 16 months of delay. The Council decision-making meeting later this month must commit to concrete action, not just sugar-coat the proposed non-decision we reviewed last night propped up with a promise of money later if needed. Further delay could lead to the borough ending up without a theatre at all, leaving Redhill a permanent cultural wasteland.”
Cllr Essex adds: “The longer the delays go on the more likely that local government reorganisation could jeopardise the entire project. If we are still in dither and delay mode, instead of fast-tracking a venue and refurbishment, by the time Council no longer exists, the promised funds could disappear into the pockets of a new unitary authority without reserves and perhaps without as much interest in Redhill’s performing arts.”
They also demanded that ‘concrete plans’ for refurbishment are fast-tracked after a ‘promise’ by Reigate & Banstead Council last night (January 9) to ring-fence £10 million of council reserves for the work. This pledge was made in a special scrutiny meeting secured by the Greens.
In robust council discussions last night Green councillors highlighted the lack of any timescales, even to bring forward costed plans for refurbishment and concerns that the promised work may still never happen. They also challenged the disingenuous quote in the report that the recent public consultation was not representative, exposed as untrue by Cllr Victoria Chester’s advance question to the meeting.
Cllr Victoria Chester (Green, Horley East and Salfords) says: “It’s encouraging that the council has now committed to refurbishing the Harlequin. But we have seen in the past how the council has been unwilling to follow up this kind of grand gesture with tangible action. The £30 million promised three years ago for affordable housing – which has still not been delivered – is a case in point.
Cllr Chester adds: “Alternative provision on this scale is costly, but so is failing to provide adequate support to our local theatre industry – there’s a danger that if this procrastination continues we may not have an arts community left to build a theatre for.”
Cllr Jonathan Essex (Green, Redhill East) comments: “The Council must now commit to spend some of the £10 million promised on a temporary 500-seat venue in Redhill and move apace with refurbishment plans, which still have not a penny committed after 16 months of delay. The Council decision-making meeting later this month must commit to concrete action, not just sugar-coat the proposed non-decision we reviewed last night propped up with a promise of money later if needed. Further delay could lead to the borough ending up without a theatre at all, leaving Redhill a permanent cultural wasteland.”
Cllr Essex adds: “The longer the delays go on the more likely that local government reorganisation could jeopardise the entire project. If we are still in dither and delay mode, instead of fast-tracking a venue and refurbishment, by the time Council no longer exists, the promised funds could disappear into the pockets of a new unitary authority without reserves and perhaps without as much interest in Redhill’s performing arts.”
