WRITERS, artists and filmgoers last night pleaded with Darlington Borough Council leaders to reverse a decision to close a local arts venue, with one describing it as a jewel in the town’s crown.

More than 60 people squeezed into Darlington Town Hall’s committee room two last night for the first debate in a three-month consultation exercise into £10.8m spending cuts.

They included councillors from all three parties, staff and union representatives and members of various arts groups and the organisaition Darlington for Culture.

Of the 12 members of the public who spoke during the debate, the majority focused on the threatened Darlington Arts Centre. They all urged the council’s cabinet to overturn its decision to close the venue and use the proceeds of any sale to build a new hub in the town centre.

Each speaker was applauded, but most sympathised with the council for the tough decisions it faced because of the 25 per cent reduction in Government grants.

Dickie Moses, from Darlington Society for Arts, claimed the building was under-used and had become increasingly run-down over the past four years.

His claims were refuted by arts cabinet member, Nick Wallis, who said the council was in a “dreadful situation”

and could not continue to give the same level of subsidy to the centre.

Mr Moses added: “I think through a lack of initiative by the people running the arts centre that we are throwing away a jewel in the crown.”

Marilyn Longstaff, from writers group Vane Women, said: “What we love so much about the Arts Centre is the cross-fertilisation of the arts.

Vane Women has had so much inspiration from the wonderful arts exhibits, theatre, music and the chance to talk to other arts people.”

Further speakers urged the council to give Darlington for Culture the chance to run its proposed business plan.

There was also concern about pinning hopes on a new performance centre next to the town hall.

Joe White, from the union Unison, said “it had become a sad annual event” for staff to express concerns about job cuts. He added the new arts provision proposal was “vague, to say the least”.

Council leader Bill Dixon said this was a budget “that is going to impact on everybody”.

“We have tried to share out the pain,” he said.

“We are the first council to up taxes. It is no good slashing and burning to cut our way out of the problems.”

Full details of the proposals and consultation can be found at darlington.gov.uk