Theatre chiefs say reduced opening protects venue
Durham County CouncilCutting the opening hours at a theatre and cinema will protect the venue's "long-term future" and ensure public money is not wasted, a council has said.
The Empire in Consett will trade one day fewer each week under proposals from Durham County Council.
Customers and opposition councillors have criticised the plan, pointing out £470,000 was spent last year on roof repairs and describing the venue as "an asset, not a problem".
But Liberal Democrat councillor Elizabeth Scott said increases to national insurance and a "very low take up" for some shows meant changes were needed.
As well as being a theatre, the 500-seat venue shows new films with the nearest alternative being 12 miles (19.3km) away in Gateshead.
The cinema and café currently opens from Tuesday to Saturday between 10:00 and 15:00, but under the council's proposals it would shut completely on Tuesdays and open for an hour less on the other days.
Empire customers Janice and William Ringer, from New Kyo, Stanley, said they feared reduced opening was a step towards a complete closure.
Mr Ringer said: "Think of the money they've just spent doing it up and they [the council] go and do tricks like this... it's criminal."
Ms Ringer said the venue was "always busy" as it was currently able to show "some really good shows".
She added: "It's disappointing because if it does close, it's something lost from the area."
'No-one visits'
Scott, a cabinet member on the authority run jointly by independents, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, said the council had "invested hundreds of thousands of pounds to make sure that we can continue to offer a fantastic programme of shows and cinema at The Empire".
"We've actually just had the most successful pantomime ever at Consett Empire".
She claimed "most theatres" in smaller towns were not open every day, but blamed "massive hikes" in national insurance under the Labour government and low audience numbers for some events on the decision.
"We are doing the right thing to protect the long-term future of the theatre and ensure the council isn't wasting taxpayers' money opening the venue on days when no-one visits."
Labour's Kevin Earley said the council should "look for different ideas" and explore all options to "make it viable" instead of reducing its hours.
"It's a much loved, cracking little theatre for the community and it has a very good reputation," the opposition councillor for Benfieldside said.
"If it starts getting less people going through the doors it becomes more difficult to justify what you're spending keeping it open.
"The budget issue doesn't mean just give up and cut, you have to look at this and say this is an asset, not a problem."