In an outstanding act of civic duty, Tunbridge Wells resident, Dr Robert Chris, has trawled through all of the council’s various reports (including the hundreds of pages of appendices) on the civic complex and related meeting minutes, as well as meeting with council leader, Mr David Jukes, on several occasions. His conclusion is damning: that the council has committed “a fundamental failure to be properly informed on a major capital project with long-term operational and public subsidy implications that constitutes an abrogation of the Council’s statutory responsibilities.” We couldn’t have put it better ourselves! You can read Dr Chris's report here: http://tiny.cc/GHCPreport Dr Chris has identified the following crucial failures by the council: 1) Little to no justification for opting for a 1,200 seat theatre after having received professional advice that a larger theatre would be preferable 2) No analysis of the financial impact of the loss of around 100 seats when the orchestra pit is in use (taking the capacity to well below the minimum recommended) 3) No explanation as to why the Great Hall car park was preferred over other sites, beyond observing that it would allow for continuity of theatre provision at the Assembly Hall 4) No analysis of the planning, cultural and financial implications of theatres of different capacities and configurations on alternative sites 5) No analysis of the impact that the physical constraints on the site will have on the long-term cultural and financial viability of the theatre (remember that under the existing plans a 25% reduction in internal space has been required to fit everything in, with most of this coming from reduced high-margin bars and restaurants – VIP events will now take place off-site!) 6) No analysis of the noise, pollution or traffic impacts on residents and businesses 7) No agreement with the freeholders of Hoopers and the Great Hall for service road access when no alternative exists for service vehicles and theatregoer coaches (although the council has casually noted that it's perfectly content to exercise its compulsory purchase orders!) 8) No analysis of how the loss of contiguity with the new cultural hub (one of the council's original objectives) might affect the theatre's vaibility And the list goes on. Please read Dr Chris’s report to find out more. It’s eye-opening. It also has the potential to ensure that the council doesn’t make a huge, very costly mistake and instead considers sensible alternatives. Dr Chris is very much in favour of a new theatre, just not on the proposed, much-flawed, site. All of these failures should have been addressed prior to having spent £4m of our taxes on the project. That they were not and that the council has chosen to try to pull the wool over our eyes by not discussing these points in the recent public consultation is extremely disappointing. But, let's make sure this project is stopped before a further £70m+ of our money is wasted. In reading Dr Chris's report it's easy to share his conclusion that our council may have committed an abrogation of its statutory responsibilities. Please read the report and share the link with others who may be interested. Then write to your local councillors to express your concern. Click here to find your councillors' details: http://democracy.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/meetings/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1 Finally, please show support for our campaign by attending to see the petition debated on Wednesday 26 July at 6:30pm in the town hall. It could be an interesting evening!