University propose council take on lease for at-risk theatre

A university has proposed that a council should take on the lease of what is billed as Northern Ireland's oldest operating professional theatre venue outside of Belfast.

Ulster University (UU) has suggested that Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council could also pay the annual running costs and the necessary repairs to the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine.

It comes after UU, which owns the 350-person capacity venue on its Coleraine campus, previously said it was reviewing the way it is used.

The university confirmed it had written to the council to ask if it would want to assume the overall running of the theatre "at full cost" as a potential option.

In a letter distributed to all councillors, which has been seen by BBC News NI, UU has proposed the council lease the venue and pay almost £750,000 to carry out what are deemed essential repairs, as well as taking on yearly running costs in the region of £500,000.

The proposal is understood to be one of several options being explored by UU for the theatre which opened in the 1970s.

The theatre's future was due to be discussed at a meeting of the council's leisure and development committee on Tuesday.

The motion was being brought forward by Alliance councillor Yvonne Boyle - but did not go ahead.

Speaking to BBC News NI, the DUP's Aaron Callan expressed concerns over the feasibility of taking on a lease of a venue that is situated within grounds owned by a separate entity, Ulster University.

Callan also said the council's budget was already stretched, with a number of multi-million pound capital works projects under way.

He said the council already supported the arts by operating two smaller community art venues, Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart and Roe Valley Arts And Cultural Centre in Limavady.

"This is not a realistic proposal," Callan told BBC News NI.

"I understand that budgets are stretched, but we as a council cannot financially take on another arts venue, we already have Flowerfield Arts Centre and Roe Valley.

"The venue is also in serious need of redevelopment and that is another cost that the council simply cannot pass on to ratepayers.

"I think what this shows is a serious lack of vision on the part of the university."

Alliance's Yvonne Boyle said the party was committed to seeing Riverside Theatre remain as an open and working theatre.

Boyle said she was glad her motion relating to the theatre had "prompted further engagement with Ulster University".

"Culture, heritage, and the arts enrich all of our lives, and having access to these kinds of resources in our local communities is incredibly important," Boyle said.

"We will remain active and enthusiastic participants in those discussions as they are ongoing."

UUP councillor John Wisener said the venue was of "vital importance to the local area" and said it was essential the theatre remained open.

Progressive Unionist Party councillor Russell Watton said he had "serious reservations" over the council entering into any lease agreement for the venue.

He said the building itself needed "serious repair work and is at the end of its life cycle".

He said that at a time when the council was operating within a strict budget and many people were struggling, it should not fall to ratepayers to ensure it is "brought back up to scratch".

A spokesperson for the SDLP said their councillors and party colleagues have always been clear about wanting to retain the Riverside Theatre "which has contributed so much to the arts in this area".

"If it were to close it would leave this council as the only one without a dedicated theatre and that would be a real shame for the entire community," they said.

"The costs mooted in this proposal are significant and we will be seeking further information on how they are broken down and how this money would be used.

"It's important that we understand the impact on ratepayers before making a decision on this proposal."