A DECISION made 10 years ago to not invest in the crumbling Carlton Theatre, Teignmouth, could mean a repair bill of £500,000.
Teignbridge Council leader Cllr Alan Connett reminded a full council meeting of a 1997 council decision not to pour more money into the crumbling building. Repairs to the Theatre are estimated to cost more than £500,000 and the council had a duty to look at other options, including a move to the newly-refurbished Riviera Cinema, he told Friday's meeting.
Teignmouth town and district Cllr Vince Fusco said he was upset at being frozen out of discussions so far. 'Is there a hidden agenda? Do they want the theatre demolished? What is Teignbridge intending to do with it? Are they going to put up a block of flats to make some money for themselves?
'It's run very professionally by the Teignmouth Players who have managed it for a long time and done a good job. It's used by 36 groups. some of these groups are very small and haven't got a lot of money,' he said. Cllr Connett said that quite properly the discussions between landlord and tenant were confidential. Frank exchanges had taken place on the practicalities of transferring over the road to the Riviera Cinema, currently being restored by builder Hugh Bromage.
Costs of repairing the Carlton are high, said Cllr Connett, but 'if Cllr Fusco believes that should be borne by Teignmouth residents he will want to explain to them that they will have to pay a 290 per cent increase in Teignmouth council tax,' he said. Cllr Connett said that work was still going on and that a full report would come to the council.
Meanwhile, a structural survey had been commissioned on the Carlton, which would be made available to the Players. The Carlton was closed in December on safety grounds after asbestos was discovered in leaking roof tiles.
But Teignmouth mayor Cllr Geoff Bladon disputed the asbestos claim, saying that an independent assessment gave the building a clean bill of health. 'There were six tests for legionella and six tests for bacteria – nothing was found. An air quality test was carried out and there was no trace of asbestos particles. 'They still feel the importance of the building is being ignored.'
Another Teignmouth councillor denied that the Carlton was not beyond economic repair and that the Teignmouth Players were being pressurised to move across the road to the Riviera Cinema.
Taking advantage of the 'hidden agenda' taunt, Cllr Connett read a letter from Teignmouth councillor Roy Phillips, signed by three other councillors, who subsequently withdrew their support. In it Cllr Phillips suggested that the Carlton should be demolished and redeveloped with private developers into a multi-use complex, topped with plush penthouse apartments.
'No doubt they had considered its viability and prepared a business plan. So from within Teignmouth itself there is a proposal to demolish the Carlton,' he said.' Moving next business, Cllr Stuart Barker said: 'This chamber has been united in wanting to see regeneration in Teignmouth to a first class resort which it certainly deserves to be and gives its full support for whatever investment is needed.'