MORE than 3,200 people have signed a ‘Save Alexandra Theatre’ online petition as revised plans have gone in for Newton Abbot’s bid for Future High Street Funding.

You can read about the revised plans on page 5 and here, Andrew Malcolm, chairman of the Friends of The Alexandra Theatre, has written of the friends’ reaction to the latest bid by Teignbridge Council for the funding.

He writes: ‘Mushrooms and The Alexandra Theatre... What is the link, I hear you cry, between these two seemingly unrelated items?

‘Well, let me explain. Ever since Teignbridge Council announced their decision to rip out the heart and soul of the historic Alexandra Theatre to replace it with a ‘flexible market, food and events space’, those in opposition to the plans seem to have been deliberately kept in the dark, much like our fungi friends.

‘Since forming the Friends of the Alexandra Theatre action group we have repeatedly asked for clarification on many of the issues surrounding the plans in place, only to be rebuffed with bland repeated discourse or simple silence.

‘One of the key points we have been trying to address is the council’s repeated claims that the plan for the theatre to be converted into an arts hub, from which the whole community would benefit from, especially the youth of the town, the disadvantaged and those who usually are unable to access the arts, is economically unviable.

‘This is in direct contrast to a feasibility study commissioned, no less, by the ccouncil themselves in 2019, which clearly states that it is economically viable. This is clearly a thorny issue for the council as they refuse to engage fully on this matter and allow us the time to seek the funding required to turn this into reality.

‘Another critical part of the project, on which we have been ignored, is the plans for their ‘flexible multi use entertainment space’ which they promise will ‘provide a variety of live artistic, musical and theatrical events’.

‘We cannot see how any temporary space can provide the necessary requirement to put on anything other than a small gig or one-off small-scale show.

‘A fully working theatre on the other hand can do just that and much, much more, and this proposal flies in the face of the council proposing that this new quarter will be an eating and entertainment destination.

‘We have many other areas of concern up for discussion. If you would like to find out more, please visit our Facebook campaign group (‘Keep the Alexandra Theatre Alive’) and help us carry the fight to the Council by signing our petition.

‘In the meantime, I’m going to find out what mushrooms, kept in the dark, are fed. Oh, hold on.’

When we approached Teignberidge Coucnil for a statement, a spokesman responded: ‘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 Alex to be run as a community facility and which showed that a full time theatre was not viable. NADMCS was made aware of this outcome.

‘As a result maintaining the Alex 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.’