A COUNCIL has been accused of wasting public money after plans emerged to demolish a £300,000 theatre only two years after it opened.

The news comes as the authority faces a budget crisis following multi-million pound overspends on two highprofile road projects.

The curtains went up at the Young People’s Theatre, in Darlington, in 2006 after the Arts Council agreed to fund the project. The facility opened as part of the revamp of Darlington Arts Centre, which is owned by Darlington Borough Council.

The Northern Echo can reveal that the theatre could be razed under plans being considered by the authority.

The land at Vane Terrace is about to be sold to the neighbouring Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, which hopes to open a new department on the site.

Martin Swainston, the leader of the council’s Lib Dem group, said: “This is short-sighted financial management.

The council is going all-out to balance the books.

“This theatre is something that taxpayers have paid for, and paid for recently.”

Earlier this year, a new road bringing traffic into the town from the east was revealed to have cost £1.8m more than planned. The overspend came only a year after the ruling Labour administration revealed the pedestrianisation of Darlington town centre had exceeded its budget by more than £2m.

The plan has also been criticised by members of arts groups who use the building and the local ward councillor.

One member of the Darlington Media Group said: “The consequences of these proposals are a great deal more far-reaching. The major losers will be Darlington Media Group and the many evening and daytime adult education class members.”

Conservative councillor Ian Galletley said: “This involves the destruction of a third-of-amillion- pound theatre that was only recently built.

“Local councillors have not been consulted about this in any way. I have never been so angry.”

Alison Clark-Jenkins, director of arts and development at Arts Council England, said the theatre was a valuable asset for the town and popular with children.

She said: “Thousands of young people enjoy taking part in the arts at the studio at Darlington Arts Centre each year. It is an important part of Darlington’s arts provision for young people.”

A council spokesman said: “The council sees this as an opportunity to work with the college towards improving education attainment in Darlington, which is one of the aims of Darlington’s Community Strategy.

“We are committed to improving access to the arts in Darlington. If the proposal is agreed, detailed discussions will need to take place with the sixth form college and with the Arts Council about the possibility of providing improved arts facilities within any new building.”