Motion demands action on new theatre or improvements to Wyvern
Conservatives want to see plan for new theatre or improve the old venue
Conservative councillors want a firm plan and timetable for a new theatre and concert venue to be built in Swindon, or for the existing Wyvern Theatre to be improved.
The town’s old bus station in Manchester Road is soon to be knocked down, and leaders at the Labour administration in power at Euclid Street have spoken many times about their aspiration to have a new theatre there, to replace the ageing and too small Wyvern Theatre.
Senior cabinet members have said a number of times that the construction model might be similar to that used to build the demountable and transportable Abba Voyage Arena in East London.
But no firm proposals, such as a budget item or an application for planning permission, have yet emerged.
Now a motion to be put to councillors by the deputy leader of the Conservative group, Councillor Dale Heenan and his colleague Councillor Daniel Adams aims to mandate action on a new venue, or to make upgrades to the Wyvern, with a way forward identified by March next year.
The motion says: “The leader of the council has said a new entertainment venue will be open in 2026 (Swindon Advertiser July 2024), but there remains no plan or budget for a new theatre or entertainment venue.”
But it says there seems little prospect of one being built: “In November, the cabinet approved a budget of up to £40,000, funded from the feasibility reserve, in order to secure specialist advice on the content of the detailed business case for a new town centre entertainment venue.
“A further report was deemed necessary to approve the detailed business case to provide the basis for commencement of formal procurement.
The cabinet forward plan for 1st July 2025 to 30th June 2026 has no mention of this further report on the delivery of an entertainment venue, and the 2025-26 budget and the three-year medium term financial plan for the council contains no further funding for an entertainment venue.”
If passed, and it would probably need the support of Labour councillors to be passed, the motion would demand a report to cabinet which “details the business case and a realistic, viable delivery plan for an entertainment venue open within two years.
“In the event of a detailed business case not being ready, or a realistic, viable delivery plan for an entertainment venue is not possible, then the cabinet member for finance considers ways to allow a minor refurbishment of seating and toilet repairs at the Wyvern Theatre to improve customer experience while plans for a new entertainment venue are progressed.”
The council meeting begins at 7pm on Thursday and members of the public are entitled to attend.