THURROCK MP Jackie Doyle-Price has delivered a damning indictment of Thurrock Council's attempts to save the Thameside Theatre, saying it should have been closed down some time ago.

She accuses the council, led by her partner and fellow Conservative Cllr Mark Coxshall, of 'kicking the can down the road' instead of doing the right thing - rather than what is popular'.

Ms Doyle-Price was responding to a letter from a borough resident seeking her views on the Thameside scenario. The building is now earmarked for sale by the cash-strapped council, which has rejected overtures from a community-based company to take it over.

In her response, which appears to have a mistaken timeline, Ms Doyle Price says: "The Thameside Theatre has limitations as an entertainment venue.

"It is too small to attract touring theatrical shows as iys capacity means that they are not economic to run.

"As a consequence the theatre has been running at a loss and has only been sustained by a generous subsidy from Thurrock Borough council.

"The decision to close the Thameside Theatre was taken in July 2022.

"At the time the community were invited to submit a bid to run it. I am aware that bids have been submitted but unless the facility can be run without public money, it will close.

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"I am sorry to give such a disappointing response.

"However, the council has been subsidising the theatre by more than it can afford.

"Being frank, it is an unwillingness to address spending commitments that has led to the council's current financial position.

"The realisation that it should close came before.

"Ultimately, Thurrock Council can only spend what it raises in taxes and needs to cut its costs accordingly.

"I am disappointed that the council sought to kick the can down the road on this decision by borrowing to invest instead of doing the right thing, rather than what is popular."

Ms Doyle-Price's recollection that the closure decision came in 2022 either unveils a previously unknown formal decision by the council or is a mistake.

Nub News exclusively revealed in July 2021 that the council wanted to close down the Thameside complex which includes a theatre, library and museum.      

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Nub News told how the council declared the complex surplus to requirements and asked officers to investigate the sale or disposal of the complex.

The council was looking to raise capital receipt on the building and had already started to move the other services out of the building.

However, it wrapped up its plans in a series of platitudes suggesting its intentions were motivated by taking art and culture out among the borough, rather than having a central focal point. It was suggested village halls and community centres would be better hosts for the arts.

Ironically, within several months, the council announced plans to sell off many of those halls and centre!