Loan for £2.4m theatre refurb 'a lot of lolly'

Opposition councillors have called for more information about an authority's plans to borrow £2.4m to refurbish a landmark theatre.

North Norfolk District Council's Liberal Democrat cabinet backed proposals to borrow funds for improvements to the Pavilion Theatre on Cromer Pier.

Describing the loan as "a lot of lolly" Conservative Victoria Holliday told a meeting no business plan had been provided to justify the loan.

The council said the work would help generate more money from tourism, and Lucy Shires, the councillor responsible for finance, said she would provide more details.

Cromer Pier was built in 1901, with the theatre added four years later, and it belongs to the council.

It hosts performances through the year, including what the local authority has said was the "world's only remaining full-season end-of-pier variety show".

A series of works have been taking place and the latest improvements would include new heating and cooling systems, upgraded lighting and sound, and refurbishing the 440 seats.

Council leader Tim Adams told the cabinet meeting the authority had yet to secure grant funding so it would seek a loan to cover costs.

He described the theatre as "iconic... a real magnet for our visitor economy that has trickle-down impact across the district".

Questioning the size of the loan, Holliday said it was "a lot of lolly".

Adding that she did not object to the idea in principal, she said "there needs to be a cost-benefit analysis".

"It's my duty on behalf of the taxpayers of North Norfolk to ask you why there isn't a business case," said Tory group leader Tim Cushing.

"What actual income will be generated from spending all of that money?"

In response, Shires said she had "sat here with you countlessly for hours giving you lots and lots of information".

But she said she would provide details of the expected impact on "profit share, car parking, local jobs, local economy" ahead of a full council meeting where the plans are due to be discussed again.

If the loan was given final approval, Adams said work would start after this year's Christmas show and would "involve a fairly significant closure of the theatre".

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