PLANS to build a new £30m theatre and conference centre for Chester city centre were unveiled last night.
Chester has been without a theatre for more than two years after the 450-seat Gateway Theatre was shut down in anticipation of the £½bn Northgate development providing a new one.
But the credit crunch-hit Northgate is still as much as 10 years away, and the man in charge of Chester’s tourism says visitors have nothing to do at night.
Cllr Richard Short, executive member for culture and recreation at Cheshire West and Chester council, told the Daily Post: “Northgate said if it got financial partners in place, it would take a year to 18 months before they could make a start.
“I do not see it coming in before 2018 to 2020, and that is unacceptable to me.
“So what I have proposed is we get some money together and we have £80,000 to do a feasibility study, which is going to come up with some sensible answers.
“We probably need some private money still – £25m to £30m.
