WAVERLEY Council and developers Crest Nicholson Sainsbury's are being urged to consider "an alternative economic scheme" for part of the East Street site - a proposal that would save the Redgrave Theatre from demolition. As The Herald went to press, the council and the developers were expected to have their first sight of an outline scheme drawn up by a consortium interested in the theatre/ Brightwell House site. The plan, it is being claimed, could increase the income to Waverley from the redevelopment without disadvantaging CNS, and give the public a development more in tune with what it wants at the same time. Involved in the consortium are the Gracechurch group of companies, which has experience of town centre development and joint venture working with public bodies, and Active Learning Childcare Ltd, a nursery chain that is seeking around 5,000 square feet of space. The plan is to create additional office/retail space through a wrap-round building enclosing the theatre. Part of this space would be occupied by a 100-place nursery school, catering for what is perceived to be a gap in the town centre's facilities. A two to three-screen cinema would be sited above the roof of the existing Redgrave Theatre, instead of the eight-screen 1,200- seater off Dogflud Way envisaged in the CNS proposals. "This cinema size is more in keeping with the views of the Farnham residents in the opinion poll conducted by CNS," claims the proposal from the consortium. "The proposed development adds value to the site, and also releases the area designated as the current masterplan for the multiplex cinema, which could then be developed for alternative commercial uses." The consortium suggests that an eight-screen cinema would have difficulty in functioning to capacity in a comparatively small town centre such as Farnham, especially when planning applications for other proposed cinema developments in neighbouring towns are being considered. "This, coupled with the fact that cinema attendance is currently on the decline due to significant advances in home-viewing technology, would suggest that a smaller, more culturally aware cinema, would be more commercially viable and would be more synergetic with Farnham town. "Such a cinema would still have the capacity to screen the latest releases, but would also screen independent productions, hold film festivals etc." The consortium has put together its proposals with the encouragement of Peter Marriott, an independent Farnham town councillor, who stressed he has no buinesss or financial interest in the scheme and simply wants to see the best possible result for Farnham. Mr Marriott revealed that an approach he had made to Herald proprietor Sir Ray Tindle had yielded new encouragement that the retention of the Redgrave could be achieved. Sir Ray has agreed that if a business plan shows the theatre can be financially viable, he would be prepared to swap Church House, which he owns, for the Redgrave building, and offer it to the Farnham Theatre Association for a peppercorn rent. The theatre association, while hoping the business plan will indicate the theatre can be kept afloat without Waverley's help, could not afford to pay commercial rents. Its chairman, Anne Cooper, this week described both Sir Ray's offer and the consortium's proposal as "interesting and very encouraging". She added: "I had no idea that such proposals would emerge. The more interest there is in saving the building, the better. I think that anybody who wants to look at putting money into saving the theatre has to be welcomed." Mr Marriott described the consortium's approach as "a win-win situation, everybody gets something out of it". He explained: "Crest Nicholson loses the responsibility for the refurbishment of Brightwells House, Waverley gains more return and the public get something closer to what they originally asked for. "I would be very pleased if Waverley and Crest Nicholson could consider this as an alternative because I think it would get the support of the public. "The Redgrave building itself would be retained, but there would be a new facade accommodating shops and restaurants. The whole of the approach could fit entirely on Waverley-owned land and development could therefore be started at an early stage. "The approach would involve some change in the Crest Nicholson master plan, but it is thought not significantly so. The space designated for the town square would be reduced in size, but I think the Woolmead, which is larger in size, better serves this function, particularly if it were to be pedestrianised. "It's not too late; there's nothing cast in stone. If there is a will on Waverley and Crest Nicholson's part they can easily change the contract terms," Mr Marriott concluded.
