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Pier pressure – but performance venue
plans remain on track
Plans for Wigan’s new theatre and an arts
and heritage centre have taken another step forwards after it was
revealed that designs for both projects are nearing completion.
Wigan Council’s ruling cabinet will this week hear how detailed design
and planning work for the schemes at Wigan and Leigh College’s Linacre
Theatre and Trencherfield Mill are well on track.
However councillors will also be warned that uncertainty over some of
the grants included in the initial budget planning means that there
could be a funding shortfall, and the council will have to accept a
degree of financial risk at this stage to allow further work to
continue.
Despite this, the cabinet is being recommended to continue with work on
both projects - so long as the shortfall in income and small rise in
costs don’t exceed a possible £2.2 million 'worst case ' scenario.
A council spokesman said: “These are major and complex schemes, and as
design work has progressed it has thrown up some limited cost over-runs
on the projects themselves, in addition to uncertainty over some of the
grant funding that was built into the original budgets.
“Nevertheless Wigan Council, Wigan and Leigh College, Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust and the Arts Exchange have all worked hard to get this far
and we are committed to see both schemes built.
“To fulfil its original ambition to provide a performance venue within
the town and a cultural centre in the Pier Quarter, the council will
have to accept the risk of a shortfall in funding.
“We have identified what we believe, on the best evidence available,
should be the worst case scenario as far as this shortfall is concerned.
The report to cabinet members recommends that we continue on that
basis.”
Linacre Theatre
The theatre design work is now nearing completion. The latest design
report identifies extra costs of £436,000 on the original £2 million
budget, the result of 'structural and acoustic insulation problems' with
the building that have been uncovered since the initial feasibility
study.
Now the plans are almost finalised, detailed discussions between Wigan
and Leigh College and the Learning and Skills Council over grant support
can get under way later this month. The theatre is planned to open in
September 2009.
The report states: “Key to the business plan will be the ability to
provide an appropriate amount of affordable access to the theatre for
the voluntary and community sector, whilst also meeting the college’s
education needs.”
Arts and Heritage Centre
Current projections show an increase in costs of £280,000 on the
original £6 million budget, although further investigations into ground
conditions and the structural condition of the Trencherfield Mill are
needed. The centre, which will include a studio theatre, heritage
attraction and art complex linked to a relocated Drumcroon, is due to
open in Easter 2010.
A review of the grant package and other income in the original business
plan has revealed that some £2.2 million to support the Pier
redevelopment and Linacre Theatre could be at risk, although this figure
would drop if new resources become available.
The possible shortfall is being put down to lack of progress on a number
of schemes within the Pier Quarter that were to be developed with other
partners, which has reduced the impact of this phase of the area’s
regeneration, rather than any lack of council commitment.
The council spokesman added: “Out economic regeneration officers are
working hard to keep any grant shortfall to a minimum and ensure that
both cultural facilities can go ahead as planned.”
Councillors are being advised to continue with design and planning work
rather than call a halt while the grant issues are resolved, since this
latter course of action could actually prove to be more expensive in the
long run. If the shortfall were to exceed £2.2 million, a further
cabinet report would be required before any final decision was taken.
-ends-
Note to editors
The cabinet meets on Thursday 21 February to consider the detailed
report.
Further information from Paul Parry, 01942 488386.
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