Novello: Community group can buy theatre but disputes price
- Published
The Novello Theatre was built as a picture house in the 1920s
A council has agreed to offer community groups a chance to buy a run-down theatre but has refused pleas to negotiate the £300,000 price tag.
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is selling the Novello Theatre in Sunninghill, Berkshire, giving campaigners six months to raise funds.
But a group seeking to save the facility said the authority's valuation was flawed.
The council said it was obliged to obtain best value for asset disposals.
Following a campaign, the 100-year-old theatre in the High Street was registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), giving local groups first refusal before it can be offered on the open market.
Campaign group Save Novello Picture House wants to restore the theatre, linking it with neighbouring Cordes Hall under a single charity.
Planning constraints and the sloping floor will limit how the building is used
At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, campaigner Jeni Jackson told councillors the valuation failed to consider restrictions that meant the building could only be used as a theatre.
She said: "Theatres have a specific protection in planning - any use of the building other than a theatre would require planning permission."
Campaign leader Alan Everett said: "We hear property services have not valued the Novello as a theatre but as a community asset.
"It seems unfair to dig in at a value that is not based on fact.
"I've spoken to six different theatre surveyors and valuers and they say it's really difficult to value the Novello for more than about £100,000, i.e. its commercial value.
"As a building in its current state with no seats, the value is zero."
But councillor Joshua Reynolds said: "It is clear the valuer is aware of the planning constraints of the theatre, and the physical constraints - in particular the sloping floor - that would limit the types of uses."
Finance councillor Lynne Jones said: "I have to support officers for attempting to achieve best value for any of our asset disposals."
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