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£2.45m: full cost to re-open the Hippodrome
3/ 9/2008
REOPENING Tameside Hippodrome will cost at least £2.45m.
That’s the outcome from a ‘conditions survey’ which states that a significant proportion of the refurbishment works would need to be done to meet minimum health and safety requirements before the building opens.
The report, presented to the council’s Theatre Arts Working Group, established total refurbishment costs to be nearly £3m, which would include repairs and giving the building a life expectancy of at least 25-30 years.
The survey revealed that the building was in a ‘state of dilapidation’ with essential repairs required to the structure and service installations.
The report has angered members of the Tameside Hippodrome Campaigners’ Committee.
Chairman and former Hippodrome stagehand Tony Wigglesworth said: "My argument is that the theatre was open on 30 March — there was a brass band show on. The public were in there, it was licensed and safe to use, so how can it suddenly require millions to be spent on it before it’s safe to open to the public again? They say the dressing rooms don’t meet health and safety standards but they were being used in March when the show was on. It can’t have suddenly become unsafe overnight. They say it’ll cost something like £4,000 to clear the gutters out. It’s unbelievable."
Earlier this year Tameside Council said the theatre would close over the summer for refurbishment works and reopen in the autumn.
Mr Wigglesworth added: "There’s no way that’s going to happen now. Last Christmas the mayor said we’d have a pantomime this year. He said that on the stage but that’s not going to happen either."
The working group was also presented with a report detailing proposals to support local groups during the ‘expected period of closure’ of the Hippodrome.
This involves investing in existing venues and groups and could also include the appointment of a Theatre Arts Officer to oversee the process and develop activity across the borough.
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4/09/2008 at 09:02