THE fight to save one of the region's most successful community theatres has received a boost.

Plans to demolish The Forum Theatre in Billingham to build a new town centre have met widespread opposition in the town.

But now the Billingham Partnership, which has previously always advocated the town centre development, has joined forces with the town's Save Our Theatre Group.

The two bodies will develop an action plan to persuade a supermarket chain and other funding bodies to incorporate the theatre as part of any plan for the town centre.

But the two bodies will not recommend preserving the town's John Whitehead Park in its present form.

A planning application recommends building on one third of the park as part of the proposed new town centre.

The highly controversial proposals, which were exclusively revealed to the public by The Northern Echo, have been agreed in principle by members of Stockton Borough Council.

They are in the hands of central government inspectors, who are expected to decide whether or not to approve them or hold a public inquiry in the coming weeks.

A joint statement by Save Our Theatre and the Billingham Partnership said: "The joint working group will develop a business plan for the incorporation of the Forum Theatre into the retail development that is proposed for the site and shall be lobbying potential supermarket investors, funding bodies and other relevant parties to support this scheme.

"We believe that such a scheme can meet the aspirations of local residents who wish to see a long-term future for the Forum Theatre in Billingham town centre."

Published: 17/07/2004