Cabinet to consider reallocating £2.8m to theatre

The Theatre Royal in Margate is a Grade II* listed building

A council's cabinet is set to consider proposals to reallocate £2.8m of funding to help restore and modernise a theatre in Kent.

On Thursday, Thanet District Council's cabinet will discuss moving some of the Margate Town Deal funding to benefit the town's Theatre Royal.

In 2021, £2.2m of funding was allocated to the theatre before a new vision was set to create a "nationally significant performing arts hub" in the town, the council said.

Ruth Duckworth, cabinet member for regeneration and property, said although the council was committed to refurbishing the theatre and 19 Hawley Square, it recognised the project was ambitious and would rely on securing "significant" funding from other sources.

The report proposes that the £2.8m comes from the £5.3m originally allocated to the Active Movement and Connections Intervention project, which focuses on improving the connections between Margate’s heritage assets, town centre, coast and residential areas.

Of the remaining money, £1.15m would be used to fund public toilets in Margate and a new public wayfinding scheme.

It would also go towards improving public areas and landscaping at a planned skatepark as part of the the Margate Town Deal Coastal Wellbeing intervention.

The final £1.35m could be used for other revised schemes in the Active Movement and Connections Intervention and could be held for other town deal projects being delivered by the council.

Ms Duckworth said she understood some people could be disappointed if the money was reallocated but said the council was committed to supporting projects that would have the biggest impact on creating jobs and opportunities.