AN arts campaign group has appealed to influential councillors to overturn plans to close a popular venue, ahead of a crucial meeting.

Darlington for Culture has sent a letter to members of Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet group on the eve of its meeting which includes a decision on the future of arts and culture in the town.

Nick Brewster, of Darlington for Culture, a group set up last year to save the town’s arts centre, said his members were “deeply concerned” about the proposals and wanted answers to a series of important questions. Mr Brewster said: “Given that the Civic Theatre seems safe for the foreseeable future, it might now appear less contentious to close the arts centre.

“However, we contend that while the proposal to build a new arts hub seems to offer a credible alternative to the current facility, there do not seem to be any plans for this new centre, no details of what facilities it will contain, nothing which would help us understand how it might match the broad and diverse arts offer of the existing arts centre.

“Furthermore, no timescales are indicated.

“Indeed, we might be waiting years for this promised new facility.

“We would urge that you think carefully before agreeing to a plan which is no more than a set of vague promises.”

His questions to the cabinet group include what are the plans for a new hub, and why the decision to sell the site was being taken so quickly.

A council spokesman said plans for a new hub would be directed through an arts vision it has produced and that full consultation was being taken.

The council’s decision to close the arts centre and build a new hub near the town hall was as a result of £10.8m cuts it is making because of the loss of Government grants.

Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and local environment, said: “We welcome Darlington for Culture’s passion and commitment to the Arts Centre. As a council, we remain determined to maintain and support a vibrant arts and cultural life in Darlington.

“Over the past two years, the need to drive down annual spending due to reductions in Government funding has meant we have been very open about our intention to explore the possible closure and sale of the Arts Centre.

“This is with the intention of developing a new arts and cultural hub in the town centre which will provide greater access to people from across the town and wider borough.”

The cabinet meets today in the town hall, at 5pm.