Councillors clash on theatre repair costs

FEARS that Oldham Council will not be able to afford emergency repairs to the Coliseum Theatre have been dismissed.

Oldham Council has allocated £1.45 million for the work, including tackling electrical, heating and asbestos issues.

But doubts have been raised whether this will be enough — because some areas of the theatre have not been inspected, and this could push the bill closer to £2 million.

Reports seen by the Chronicle admit that provisional cost estimates exceed the available budget and additional sources of funding will need to be found if tendering doesn’t reconcile the difference.

Surveyors were not able to access roof voids, underground drainage, the orchestra pit and other unexposed or covered areas and their report doesn’t include floor coverings, decoration and mechanical and electrical installations within offices. Surveys have already cost £16,000 and further urgent work is needed to stop spring water flooding the bar cellar.

Trying to save costs on the work could result in unsightly exposed pipework and ventilation.

Councillor Kay Knox, cabinet member for leisure, culture, heritage and tourism, said officers had been out again to see what work needed doing and were happy that it could be done with the money allocated.

She said emergency funds had been set aside, if needed.

But Councillor Hugh McDonald, shadow cabinet member for leisure, culture, heritage and tourism, fears the final bill for the repairs could approach £2 million and is concerned about the areas surveyors couldn’t access.

He said: “We are told £1.45 million has been made available for the Coliseum but parts of the building were inaccessible. The front of house has also quite a lot of things outstanding and is not up to date.

“I don’t know at what point this price is going to be too big and something we can’t afford. You are looking at an old building and you don’t know exactly what is in the walls. There could be issues, especially around asbestos.

“We still support the Coliseum but we have to look at the real price of it in the light of severe council cuts. We should be looking at a building or a site somewhere else in the town.”

The theatre is set to close for six months from January to allow refurbishment works to go ahead and is searching for an alternative venue for performances during that time.

The council’s cabinet has agreed to go ahead with the necessary repair works, starting at the end of January after the pantomime season. The theatre will apply for funding to cover relocation costs.

Lack of available funding means there is little hope of building a new theatre in Oldham Town Centre in the foreseeable future.

But repairs are desperately needed with the risk that the council-owned building could close if it isn’t done.

The heating system is in such a poor state that it is beyond repair and could fail at any time. Temporary heaters would be used if this happens.

The repairs are designed to extend the life of the building and would not improve facilities.

Theatre bosses say the theatre is cramped and are looking into fund-raising to install new seating while the work takes place.

There is no formal lease between the council and the theatre so formal contractual property arrangements are also to be put in place.