Newton Abbot councillors squabble over theatre

'Mute rambling speaker' says leader

Teignbridge District Council has been told there will be strong opposition to plans that would see Newton Abbot’s Alexandra Theatre redeveloped.

As part of a successful Future High Street’s Fund bid, a transformed market and food hall, Alexandra Cinema and Market Square would include a new eating quarter, cinema, a remodelled entertainment and events venue and a high quality market space.

But nearly 4,000 people have signed a ‘Save Alexandra Theatre’ online petition, with the Friends of the Alexandra Theatre action group saying they have been kept in the dark at the specifics of the proposals.

Cllr Liam Mullone, leader of the Newton Says No group, told the council's executive meeting that his group would oppose the move and "put the council on notice" as to what could happen if they went ahead and ignored public opinion.

Councillors were not due to discuss the issue until 6 April, but Cllr Mullone said: “These plans proceeding with indecent haste and my group will oppose them. There is great interest and enormous sympathy for adapting the Alexandra in its current state and there is a petition with nearly 4,000 signatures calling for it.

“We are treated to a three hour presentation when the council fits in some low energy light bulbs somewhere, but perhaps the most iconic building in Newton Abbot after the clock tower is going to be gutted and we have hardly had a breath of it.”

Cllr Alan Connett, leader of the council, asked Cllr Mullone to keep to the particular point and not turn this into a ‘rambling conversation’, and asked officers if they could mute him if he carried on.

Cllr Mullone said: “This is about the forward plan to discuss it. This hasn’t come up in the public sphere and we are putting you on notice. If you destroy the Alexandra Theatre then you cannot expect to reinstall candidates in your party in any seat in Newton Abbot.”

In an open letter to councillors, the Friends of the Theatre said that a business plan had shown a community theatre is viable but it requires seed funding and assumes a low rent.

They added: “In sensing a tragic loss to the community about to unfold, The Friends of the Alexander Theatre (FoTAT) was formed to represent the community as a whole. Its purpose to try and save the theatre in Newton Abbot by addressing the pitfalls which the council sees with this plan. 

“The FoTAT want to take on the community theatre project, given the opportunity. We are confident that we will be able to secure funding to take this forward in a way which addresses the financial and footfall concerns of the council.

“The benefits of the community theatre are manifold. It provides opportunities to the youth, on and off stage to nurture talent to bring people together to increase tolerance and encourage expression in a healthy way. It improves mental health, and has the potential to open doors and launch careers.

“Without a fully functional theatre in Newton Abbot, the council jeopardizes the amazing charitable work already done in this respect. By the council’s own statistics, 81 per cent of the responses to the public consultation thought that there should be provision for more live entertainment in the town centre. Does the council really believe that people giving these responses are envisaging a multifunctional space suitable for one off performances only?"

A Teignbridge District Council spokesman had previously said: “Our plans to revitalise the centre of Newton Abbot aim to attract more people, boost the local economy and retain two historic buildings.

“The space in the Alexandra cinema is only used as a theatre for three weeks a year and continuing to operate the Market Hall and Alexandra buildings independently is not viable.

“The council commissioned an exploratory business case last year for the Alexandra to be run as a community facility and which showed that a full time theatre was not viable. 

“As a result maintaining the Alexandra in its current form was not part of the successful proposals submitted to the Future High Street last year and the Friends are aware of this.

“We believe that the new cinema and the proposed multi-use space will be used throughout the year and will support a range of social, community and live entertainment.

“We have consistently said that once the £9.2 million funding has been confirmed we will work with all stakeholders on the detailed implementation of our plans so as to deliver the best option for the people of Newton Abbot.”

The Future High Street Plans for Newton Abbot will include pedestrian and cycling improvements for better links to shopping facilities, a new cinema built on the site of the existing New Look store, with the current Alexandra cinema converted into a bar/restaurant and events venue, and the reduction of traffic in Queen Street.

We have previously reported that the plan will include a theatre space, but not specifically for community arts theatre: https://bit.ly/30ua0HH