THURROCK Labour are set to continue to put pressure on the ruling Conservative-run council over the future of the Thameside Theatre.
Council leader, cllr Rob Gledhill believes he cannot have made it many more more plain that the “Thameside Theatre will only close when a new theatre has opened”.
He made the comment after a cabinet document stated that the complex was “likely to close in 2019”. That was dismissed as “inaccurate press reporting”
The most recent cabinet document had alternative theatre provision as a “Future and Aspirational Capital Proposal”
But its carried the following caveat that construction of a new theatre is “subject to further feasibility work on theatre options including consideration of potential providers being undertaken by consultants in the context of the Grays masterplan.”
And so, leader of the Thurrock Labour group, cllr John Kent has tabled a motion at the next council meeting set for Wednesday February 22nd.
The motion states: “The Thameside Theatre is held in great affection by residents across Thurrock. Therefore the sudden announcement that the theatre is likely to close by April 2019 is causing real concern in many quarters.
“Council is of the collective view that the Thameside Theatre should remain open until a new civic theatre for Thurrock, situated in Grays, has opened”.
