Campaign Sails On

More than 150 campaign supporters packed the public gallery for a meeting of Arun's cabinet on Monday, when the future of the theatre/cinema complex was under discussion.

They were given the chance to quiz cabinet members for half an hour, before the councillors themselves debated the Windmill.

All dance, drama and music societies using the Windmill turned out in force at Monday's meeting, as they had done four days earlier at the annual Littlehampton town meeting.

And there was a particularly encouraging large number of young people on both occasions, who spoke eloquently about what the Windmill meant to them as performers and audience members and how much they would miss it if the venue was lost.

Arun owns the seafront entertainment complex and hopeful signs emerged on Monday of a possible partnership deal with Littlehampton Town Council and the involvement of others, possibly including the Save the Windmill campaigners, made up of all the user groups.

Council leader Derek Whittaker fielded most of the questions aimed at the cabinet.

Asked by Littlehampton Players' Operatic Society chairman Margaret Lilley why running repairs had not been carried out to the Windmill, he said Arun at the time had placed greater priority on economic regeneration.

Arun services director Colin Rogers denied a suggestion that damage caused to the theatre during the 1987 great storm had not been repaired at the time, but there had been more roof problems in the past three years.

His report to the cabinet showed the overall cost of refurbishing the Windmill was between 380,000 and 400,000, including new seating, ventilation, sound equipment and internal and external repairs.

Others in the public gallery called for Arun to dip into its 9million reserve funds to safeguard the Windmill's future, but Mr Whittaker said the money would be needed in future years to protect services and keep down the council tax.

Basil Cooper, who has connections with a number of the societies, pointed out that elderly people, particularly, could not afford to go to alternative cinemas and theatres in Worthing and Brighton.

Mr Whittaker said a marketing brief which would be sent out to any parties interested in running the Windmill would stress its future role in providing community theatre, musical and drama events.

"Indeed, I would like to see greater daytime use of the venue, rather than its current predominantly evening use, to maximise its community use."

Cabinet members agreed the Save the Windmill group and the town council should be involved in drawing up the marketing brief, to be ready by the end of June.

Expressions of interest in running the venue will be sought by advertising in the national and local press, and by direct contact with prospective partners, such as the campaign group.

It was also agreed by the cabinet that the flat seating arrangements at the Windmill, brought in after the tiered seating failed a fire inspection, should continue and that the raised seats should be removed immediately.

To join the campaign, fill in the coupon in the Gazette, May 16.