A DEMONSTRATION against the East Street regeneration is being staged by the New Farnham Repertory Company (NFRC), protesting at the "cultural vandalism" of demolishing the Redgrave Theatre.

They will be joined by another group, Campaign For East Street Evaluation (CEASE), which wants the project to be halted so that elements of the scheme can be re-examined.

Both groups will be rallying support outside the Brightwell Gostrey Centre, where Crest Nicholson/ Sainsbury's development plans are being displayed tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon.

They feel strongly of the need for greater public input into the regeneration plans, and believe proposals are being rushed without consideration of its implications.

The NFRC has been campaigning for the retention of the Redgrave since its closure in1998.

The building has been allowed to deteriorate and has become a target for vandalism, but Hannah Williams, of the theatre group, said there was no reason why it should not be restored to its former glory.

"We are still trying to pressure the developers to refurbish the Redgrave, even though the plans are to bulldoze it.

"It especially breaks my heart when I see the Haymarket Theatre in Basingstoke being so successful, with a young audience for the latest production of Othello there.

"The Haymarket which is a charming theatre has had £3 million spent on it, but its acoustics will never be as good as those of the Redgrave."

She said that if the demolition goes ahead, Farnham will be the only town in the country to have axed a modern theatre.

She asked whether developers Sainsbury's, whom she said had been keen to support the arts, wanted to be associated with such "cultural vandalism".

"We have been fighting this for four years, but now it's come to crunch time - why does this have to be inevitable?"

After meeting with developers Crest Nicholson last week, she said the theatre group was not convinced by plans for a replacement cinema/arts facility on the site.

In her opinion, such a centre could not work and it had been ill-considered.

Jez Hyman, of CEASE, stressed that while the campaign's members would be demonstrating against the scheme in principle, their aim was to ensure all residents are given full opportunity to express their views on what should be included.

CEASE has produced a questionnaire on the redevelopment which will be available outside the Brightwell Gostrey Centre from around noon tomorrow.

l The new East Street - Page 3.