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The staggering response to the consultation on the future of the Sevenoaks Playhouse building has continued in the last week, with the past few days seeing some remarkable milestones achieved.
On Monday (14 August) the 1,000th visitor passed through the doors of the Playhouse to take part in the consultation that is setup in the foyer of the complex.
By the end of Tuesday (15 August) over 1,500 people had been involved in the consultation as a whole, with 1,250 people visiting the building and a further 350 completing the online questionnaire on the Council’s website, www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/playhouse.
Residents are also reminded they can have their say this coming Saturday (19 August) when, due to public interest, an extra date has been added to the public consultation with the foyer opening from 10am to 4pm.
The news comes as Sevenoaks District Council has announced that it has already sent out a interim management brief to ten interested parties. The brief was posted out a week earlier than first proposed on Friday 11 August. The brief invites organisations with appropriate experience to submit proposals by 8 September with a view to running the facility by early October 2006. Submissions will be evaluated by the Council's Cabinet on Thursday 28 September.
Cllr Felicity Broomby, the Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for the arts, says: "It is vital that people give us their views as it will all play an important part in the process of getting a permanent management organisation in to run the complex, so I am pleased that the terrific response we achieved in the first week has continued. Some people suggested that we open the Playhouse on a Saturday to enable those that are at work during the week to have their say. So I would urge anyone who may not have the chance during the week, to come and have a say this Saturday at the specially added date."
Sevenoaks District Council began a month long consultation in the foyer of the Playhouse building at 2pm on Wednesday 2 August, after being handed back possession of the cinema and theatre complex on Friday 28 July.
The consultation is running Monday to Friday (and Saturday 19 August) 10am to 4pm throughout August (except on Bank Holiday Monday 28 August).
As part of this consultation, residents will have the chance to say if the District needs a theatre and cinema and if so, what types of production or films should be shown. Residents can complete the questionnaire in the Playhouse foyer. There also will be an opportunity to say what facilities the complex should have and what would encourage people to use it more often.
The findings from the consultation will be used later in the year when the Council plans to carry out a procurement process to get a permanent organisation to run the complex. It is hoped that a long-term solution will be in place by the New Year.
For further information visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/playhouse or e-mail playhouse.survey@sevenoaks.gov.uk
Ends
Press release issued: August 15 2006
