Plans for a £6m Lottery-funded theatre in Wrexham have finally been axed after a decision by the executive board of Wrexham Council to cancel the building project, which was due to receive a £4.6m grant from the Arts Council of Wales (ACW).
The project has been beset with problems for some while. The company initially due to build the 400-seat venue withdrew shortly before starting work last year, and when Wrexham Council contacted the second company on its tender list, it found that it had gone into administration. Furthermore, there had been local criticism about the project on the basis that the area was already well served with theatres, including Clywd Theatr Cymru, only 12 miles away.
The cancellation of the project means that the ACW money will be re-allocated to other capital projects. Iestyn Davies, Head of Communications at ACW said ?Given the current squeeze on Lottery funds, this provides an unexpected opportunity to progress other projects that would otherwise have been on a waiting list for consideration. We have already moved ahead on projects in Newport and Carnarvon, and are confident that we will continue to meet the aims and objectives of our capital strategy.?