THE Royal Opera House has been a key feature in “talking up” Thurrock and its aspirations, Cllr Andy Smith told Wednesday (5 June) evening’s meeting of Thurrock Council’s cabinet.
He was introducing an item where the council would loan the Royal Opera House £1½ million and give it a grant of a further £½ million.
Cllr Smith said: “This is a critical ingredient in diversifying Thurrock’s economic base.” He explained that the Royal Opera House, National Skills Academy and the rest of the High House, Purfleet, development offered a new route for local people to seek education and find jobs.
He said: “The next stage in the completion of the development is to build a world class costume manufacturing facility and to provide Thurrock’s young people with world class training opportunities within that.
“That is why this proposal to bring the Royal Opera House’s costume manufacturing capability and other crafts and workshops on to the site – working in conjunction with South Essex College – is so important.”
He said the college is also contributing to the funding, but there is still a gap that the proposal to cabinet will fill.
“We have already seen the Royal Opera House engaging with in a high level of community outreach, securing the costume capability will add to that and will enrich and enhance the lives of Thurrock people.”
While admitting it was a difficult decision, in light of increasing pressure of local government spending, Cllr Smith said: “We cannot abandon our hopes and aspirations for our communities, so we should support the Royal Opera House to deliver this additional capability here.
“This fabulous start can only be improved on as the site continues to be developed for the benefit of Thurrock people.”
Cllr Smith said a close look at the overall proposals at High House – if everything went as predicted – would bring in well over 200 jobs to the borough and “deliver more than £30 million benefit for the national economy”.
