THEATRE must not be allowed to die in Teignmouth. That is the message from Teignmouth Town Council. Mayor Cllr Geoff Bladon said that the Carlton was the lifeblood of the town and vital to its economy. 'During the season they [the Teignmouth Players] do a wonderful job. They are good for our tourist industry and our economy. It's an asset we don't want to lose.' At last Tuesday's town council, he said Teignmouth was prepared to fight to retain theatre, 'and if that means a few thousand people standing round it, that is what will happen'. With the demolition of the dilapidated Carlton looking increasingly likely, Teignbridge Council is holding a public consultation on what should go in its place. The building has been closed since the beginning of the month because of a leaking roof and possible crumbling asbestos ceiling boards. Teignbridge Council leader Alan Connett said: 'The building has come to the end of its working life, there is no doubt about this. 'My view is that the council should be seizing the initiative and asking the wider community what ideas they have and what they would like to see there. 'There are no concrete plans as yet and the consultation process will enable all those who have a view to let us know.' Three independent town councillors – Roy Phillips, Brenda Battershill and Chris Whitlock – have written to senior councillors and officers with their own proposal. They want the building to be replaced with a multi-use arts complex, with specialty shops, information office, meeting rooms and luxury penthouse apartments. Cllr Roy Phillips told fellow councillors that any new development should include a proper theatre, let out to the Teignmouth Players 'at a peppercorn rent'. Rodney Bowen, a committee member of the Players, said: 'Our objective is to have a theatre there. It is a vital community asset which we are very proud to be able to create.' Local theatre groups were thrown into disarray at the sudden closure just as the panto season was about to kick ott. Whereas the Shaldon Theatre Company is taking its production of Jack and the Beanstalk to Coombeshead College Theatre, Newton Abbot, the Players still hope to stage Little Red Riding Hood in the Carlton, assuming emergency repairs can be done in time. Teignbridge Council's announcement of an official consultation in the new year has attempted to nip in the bud rumours which have included the belief that they had a contract out to demolish the theatre. This has been denied by Teignbridge Council spokeswoman Michelle Kenney, who said: 'We have no contract and have no instruction to demolish the theatre.' She confirmed planning permission to demolish the theatre 'as an enabling decision' has been in place since 2004.
