NFRC put case to have the Redgrave listed

The following article appeared in the Farnham Herald on 16 April 2004.

Campaigners for the retention of the Redgrave Theatre have submitted their case for listing the building to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The New Farnham Repertory Company (NFRC) has been campaigning to save the Redgrave from demolition as part of the planned redevelopment of East Street since it closed in 1998.

Many would see little architectural merit in the 1974 building but the NFRC argues it should be listed because the adjoining 1792 Brightwell House is Grade II listed.

It has submitted a weighty document to Gordon Howell, the historic environment case officer at the DCMS.

The document includes letters of support from Pam Ayres, Charles Spencer, the Daily Telegraph's theatre critic, the Reverend Andrew Tuck, Rector of St Andrew's Church, Gordon Harris, chairman of the Farnham Society, and Michael Blower, Waverley councillor.

There are also brief messages from Simon Callow, Dame Judi Dench, Timothy West and Sir Ian McKellen.

In the document the NFRC says the theatre should be listed because it has "one of the best auditoriums in the UK", was built by public subscription and has historical links with the Castle Theatre, which preceded it, and the Redgrave family.

Also included is a letter from theatre consultant, Michael Holden, who helped design the Redgrave.

Meanwhile, a member of the NFRC, Anne Cooper, has complained that a postal survey by prospective Conservative MP Jeremy Hunt about the East Street redevelopment misleads people about the Redgrave.

She claims a question asking people if they want the Redgrave retained gives the impression developers Crest Nicholson would withdraw from the planned redevelopment if the Redgrave were to be retained.

In a letter to The Herald Mrs Cooper writes: "This is either ill-informed or disingenuous, as the developers told me they would be able to include the Redgrave in a new masterplan. They are obviously not going to walk away over this issue. (For the full text of the letter follow this link.)

Asked to comment, Terry Prescott, for the developers, issued this statement: "The masterplan for East Street has been designed to respond to Waverley's development brief in a way that creates a viable and sustainable scheme for this part of Farnham.

"The retention of the Redgrave isn't part of this masterplan because it isn't a requirement of this brief."

He would not comment further.

Meanwhile, Waverley officers and Liberal Democrat councillors on Waverley's decision-making executive committee will meet Crest Nicholson executives next week to determine the content of a questionnaire that will be sent to 16,500 homes in Farnham.

Chris Mansell who, as portfolio holder for the redevelopment project, will be among those at the meeting, said: "We are all keen to get as full a response as possible from the people of Farnham and the questions must be wide-ranging yet reflect also the specific concerns that have been expressed.

"The results of the survey will be published and when Waverley councillors take their decision in July on a revised masterplan, so will the reasoning behind their decision. This process has to be transparent."

We are now in a crucial period of public consultation on the East Street Re-Development. This is the time for you to make your views known about the Theatre.

Click the link below.