The esteemed actress is a patron for the seaside theatre
Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench has backed a campaign opposing the sale of the Broadstairs Memorial Hall by Kent County Council (KCC), expressing concern for the future of its resident company, the Sarah Thorne Theatre.
Dame Judi, who serves as a patron for the theatre, said she was “horrified” to hear the building’s freehold had been put up for auction.
In a statement, she said: “I understand that Michael Wheatley-Ward has a lease for five years, but this sale would obviously put the future of the theatre in jeopardy.
“It would be a tremendous loss to the local community and every effort should be made to secure its future.”
The building, which has been identified as an “asset of community value,” has been listed on auctioneers’ Clive Emson website with a guide price of £350,000 and bidding is due to end on Thursday, December 11.
Despite the protest, KCC leadership confirmed the sale is statutory and necessary because the building is no longer used by the council.
The previous administration declared it surplus to operational needs in 2024 and placed it on the disposal list. KCC says it has agreed a five-year lease allowing the Sarah Thorne Trust to remain in the Memorial Hall despite the sale.
Deputy Leader Brian Collins confirmed the council had taken steps to safeguard the theatre’s immediate future. He said: “It is disappointing that we have not been able to find enough local interest and investment to support this community asset.
“The Sarah Thorne Theatre means a great deal to residents, and while I am proud that KCC has been able to support the group during the years that KCC community learning and skills operated from the building, without a viable proposal the council now has no choice but to move forward with the sale.”
Mr Collins said council had exhausted all other options: “It is disappointing that we have not been able to find enough local interest and investment to support this community asset.
“Community groups have had 18 months to develop proposals to run the facilities; however, no viable proposals have been able to be taken forward during this time.”
Councillor John Finch was credited with securing an agreement to delay the sale from May until December but no viable solution was reached.
The sale has drawn criticism from the opposition, including the Labour MP for East Thanet, Polly Billington MP, who along with local councillors, is spearheading the campaign against the sale.
Ms Billington accused the ruling Reform UK group of risking community assets to pay for “broken promises.” She said: Performance spaces like the Sarah Thorne Theatre need to be treasured and preserved, not flogged off to the highest bidder.
“Council Leader Linden Kemkaran needs to get a grip of this shambolic council and halt this fire sale of this treasured local asset.” Michael Wheatley-Ward, founder and director of the theatre, stated that his “preferred option has always been to move the theatre to a Charitable Trust”.
He added: “It would be sad to see the Broadstairs Memorial Hall sold by Kent County Council, because I want to ensure the Sarah Thorne Theatre has a stable and secure home.”
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