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Why?
The Council wish to sell it to fund their current programme of refurbishments in Bridgwater House, The Town Hall and their site in Colley Lane. Simple. Nothing whatsoever to do with the Arts in Sedgemoor.

And Then?
The council intend to move the BAC back into Bridgwater Town Hall at some point in the future. The current SDC favoured plan is to amalgamate the Town Hall, the Arts Centre and the Blake Museum into the Town Hall site. The SDC themselves have commissioned a full feasibility study to look into the different options available to it. It is due to report back later in 2004. By which time they will have sold Castle Street.... Remember They have proposed that it be "disposed of" by June.

But It's a Success, isn't it?
Bridgwater Arts Centre was the first arts centre in the country. Opened in 1946, it has been maintained by the dedication of members and volunteers over the years. It was created for the people of BRIDGWATER. Moving it to Burnham would be plainly ridiculous. It would lose all the audience and volunteer base it has built up over the years and would in future be inaccessible to the very Bridgwater Community it was created to serve. And yes it is a success in the last three years footfall has risen from 7000 to 31000. The theatre and bar are thriving and the out-reach work is valued all across Sedgemoor.

Who Doesn't Want to Close It?

*The Arts Centre Members: Marcia Barret, a long-standing member said "At a special meeting held recently to break this news to us we unanimously voted to oppose such a move unless a 'serious' alternative could be found in Bridgwater."

*The Arts Centre Board: Chairman Pat Parker says "Today the Arts Centre is bursting to capacity with Community use with its footfall in the past 3 years going up from 7,000 a year to 31,000."

*The Bridgwater Town Council: Mayor of Bridgwater Cllr Adrian Moore says "I totally oppose the sale of the Arts Centre without a suitable alternative in Bridgwater being found first"

*The Sedgemoor Contemporary Music Group Chairman: Matt Bartlett says " Now that Rock Music is back in the Arts Centre after an absence of 10 years, it's a sad irony that the council want to sell it from under our feet."

*Sedgemoor Labour Group. Shadow Spokesman for Leisure sport and Culture Cllr Brian Smedley says "If the Art Centre is moved to Burnham it will be finished and there'll be nothing to move back-which is exactly what those trying to rush this through want!"

*The People of Burnham & Highbridge. Cllr Derrick Cooper, who lives in Burnham says "The people of Burnham don't want the Arts Centre moved into the Princess as we've got a perfectly good and full programme there already thank you very much!"

*The Blake Drama Club: Arthur Cummins says " Bridgwater will be deprived of its only performing space for theatre"