Bleak News For Arts Centre Campaign

Project is now 'hanging by a thread'

The chance of Ealing having an Arts Centre in the Town Hall is looking increasingly unlikely after council officers criticised the business plan and failed to recommend the project move forward.

Campaigners say that delays in progressing the matter now mean that Ealing Arts Centre Ltd (EAC) -a social enterprise set up by residents - has lost the chance to get funding this year.

It also means that windfall money from the sale of a painting by Solomon J Solomon, which was ring-fenced for the arts and enough to open the Arts Centre, has now disappeared into the general budget pot.

Council officers failed to recommend the business plan (which the Council paid for) at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC). The Chairman later dismissed the plan as “nonsense” and claimed that EAC directors had ''no track record” in such matters.

More than 1,600 people have signed a petition supporting proposals for a new arts facility - enough signatures to get a debate in full Council.

EAC Director Ann Pavett says : ''Residents are very aware that Ealing Borough seriously lacks adequate arts and entertainment facilities and are doubly concerned that building homes for thousands more residents will only make the situation worse – unless cultural and other social facilities are expanded. Many signatures to the petition are accompanied by heartfelt comments about this.''

The petition is still open and can be found at www.gopetition.com/petition/39579.html

02 December 2010