Press Release: Chesil Redevelopment - Building the dream, 6th March 2009.

We are delighted that our project has been approved officially by Winchester City Council at their Cabinet meeting on 4th February 2009. This means we have been awarded a total grant of £30,000 for the current year - £10,000 from the Town Forum and £20,000 from the District.

This is an important step forward, not only in fundraising terms but also support of this kind from the “grass roots” stands us in good stead when applying to other Trusts, Foundations, Hampshire County Council and Arts Council England. Thank you not only to our councillors for putting their trust in our scheme but also to the many people who wrote backing our plans.

Following completion of negotiations for the land acquisition, the deposit has now been paid and we can look forward to completion. In the short term, there will be little difference to be seen as the archaeological and ecological surveys have to be completed but once this is done, the necessary demolition will take place and the land cleared ready for building.

Ten years into the development scheme, we recently held a meeting on “The Way Forward” when Peter Liddiard was introduced as our Project Manager, overseeing the bricks-and-mortar aspect of our plans. We are so pleased he has accepted this role as the project could not be in better hands. Peter is a qualified architect and currently serves as our Building Manager. He is a longstanding member of Chesil Theatre and has brought his expertise into use making many improvements to the current building over the years.

Everyone can help our fundraising - through becoming a “Friend of the Chesil”, making a donation or simply using the link on our website (www.chesiltheatre.org.uk) which gives us commission on purchases from Amazon. Don’t forget too that copies of Richard Green’s fascinating history of the building we are proud to call our home are available to purchase at the bar.
 

For further information on the Appeal, please call
Flavia Bateson (01962) 855544 or email appeal@chesiltheatre.org.uk

Watercolour showing the front elevation of the proposed Chesil Theatre redevelopment.

Watercolour by Keith Leaman © Keith Leaman.
Reproduced by kind permission.