ALTON’S artistic community have united to promote a joint bid for a new performing arts centre on the Molson Coors Brewery site.

The plea comes in response to the public consultation run by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC), in partnership with Alton Town Council, to determine public opinion over the shape and use of a possible new community facility as part of the Cala Homes development in what is a key town centre location.

The proposal is being backed by a growing number of organisations, among them Alton Concert Orchestra and Cantique Chamber Choir, Luminosa Chamber Choir and Young Voices, Ancora Female Voice Choir, Alton Morris, Opera Loki, Alton Fringe Theatre, and Alton Operatic and Dramatic Society.

Alton Concert Orchestra, Alton Concert Band, Alton Community Choir, Strictly Showtime and Wey Valley Radio have also backed the campaign, supported by Amery Hill School, Home-Start WeyWater, the Alton branch of the Labour party, and district and county councillor Andrew Joy.

In a signed letter to district council planners, the petitioners have welcomed provision in Cala’s plan for funding community facilities.

“We believe that the arts are intrinsic to the community requirements of Alton, and that support for the arts in the form of the provision of flexible and well-equipped facilities for performances, exhibitions and other events will be beneficial to the community and the economic and cultural well-being of the town,” the letter read.

Their shared creative vision is for a mixed-use facility for people in the community who are unable, or find it difficult, to access the current facilities, in particular people with mobility requirements, young people who have limited or no access to appropriate social and performance space, a multicultural performance space, and a place to meet other community members across all ethnicities.

Such a facility would, it is suggested, provide long-term financial benefit to the town through employment opportunities, enhance the reputation of the town as a place to visit, increase footfall, and generate usage revenue.

There would also be an opportunity for financial support via sponsorship, the group said.

What is needed, they believe, is a flexible performance space capable of accommodating a large performing ensemble with an audience of up to 250, and which can be configured in a number of ways for concerts and staged performances to dinners, dances, exhibitions, meetings, with a number of adjacent rooms for rehearsals, dressing room and local radio broadcasting, equipped with stage lighting, film projection equipment, sound amplification systems, retractable seating, bar and catering facilities, toilets and washrooms and adequate parking, with easy access from the town centre, railway station and bus stops.

Leading the way, Alton Concert Orchestra conductor Chris Gardner said: “We struggle to find venues that are suitable for our performances, where there is enough space, good acoustics, clear sight lines and facilities for providing refreshments. As our population grows, there is a golden opportunity to build something for which future audiences and performers will thank us.”

Jane Gray, of Opera Loki, added: “I would like to see more groups like Opera Loki enhancing our arts offering in Alton with high-quality, professional performances.

“The only way to do so would be to provide an appropriate performance space coupled with a passion in the town to improve the arts. We have the passion, now we need that venue.”

As such, Alton’s performing arts community is asking EHDC to “take a strategic approach to the allocation of funds from the Coors development for community facilities” and to consider allocating funds from other developments to provide the town with a high-quality, mixed-use arts facility to fit their shared creative vision.

Having stepped out of the formal consultation framework in order to present the views of “a significant segment of Alton’s population” they are hoping East Hampshire District Council will offer an opportunity to discuss their vision and consider the more practical aspects of delivering it, such as cost, funding, benefits, and options.