Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake has been criticised for not stumping up any money towards a £25,000 project to help people negotiate a “frightening and hazardous” pathway from Lake Road to the venue.
A long-standing plan to properly light the link from the underpass past Hope Park and to Crow Park and the lake foreshore has hit the buffers after a number of setbacks – not least who should foot the bill for it.
Keswick Town Council has now agreed to step in and fly the flag for the scheme but has warned it cannot pay for it all.
It has said with theatre users standing to be the “greatest beneficiary” from new lights – the venue itself should be prepared to chip in something towards it having previously been cold on doing so.
The Reminder asked theatre bosses if it could contribute any money to the project but its response did not address the question or provide any commitment.
Elizabeth Barraclough, a former county councillor and parks trustee, has been championing the Lights to the Lake project alongside Tony Welton and said the theatre’s funding rules appear to be the sticking point.
Asked to explain its difficulties, the theatre statement read: “We are aware of and appreciate the hard work of Elizabeth and Tony Welton for years, to help improve street lighting on Lake Road for all who live in and visit Keswick.
“We appreciate the financial challenges faced by councils and value all of the work of Keswick Town Council particularly at this difficult time.
“We have not yet been approached by Keswick Town Council following their recent meeting.”
Cllr Paul Titley does not support the town council putting money aside into a budget if there was “no financial input at all” from the theatre.
Cllr Titley said: “I think it’s a shame that they are not prepared to put their hand in their pocket to contribute to this.
“We are not asking them to pay for all of it, we are asking them to participate because of the benefit they will get from it.”
And Ms Barraclough said: “We have been talking to the theatre about this in great detail but they believe all their money that comes to them is controlled under the Charity Commission rules and under those rules they are not able to spend it on anything that is not specifically for putting on theatre.
“We have tried to persuade them that they could get the Charity Commission to agree to spending some money on this project, which, as the town council says, probably benefits the theatre more than anybody else.”
Keswick mayor Alan Dunn said the Charity Commission rules sounded like the theatre looking for an “excuse”.
Just a fortnight ago, it was revealed the theatre would receive a £135,000 cash boost from the Government’s culture recovery fund.
But that too comes with strict small print around what it can be spent on.
Cllr Titley added: “The theatre managed to light up their own building and you don’t need lighting to run a theatre, so if that’s the case, lighting to get to the building should come under the same heading?
“I think they are just looking for wriggle room not to spend money on something that needs to be spent.”
Cllr Allan Daniels, a member of Allerdale Borough Council, said: “What has made this project quite difficult to happen is the theatre itself not being willing to put any money into this at all.”
“Even if it was just a small amount, I think it would make all the difference. I would like to think that if we do make provision for a budget within our own town council that we could ask Allerdale Borough Council (for money) again but they would also feel that the theatre should make a contribution.”
The search to find money for the project is running out with Keswick Town Council unable to fund it all and Allerdale Borough Council being abolished under the reorganisation of local government.
Cllr Marcus Campbell-Savours said: “I felt if I had £25,000 to spend on the whole of Keswick, it would not have been for this. It feels like the main beneficiary of this is the theatre.”
If it’s about Allerdale Borough Council making a contribution to it, or Keswick Town council making a contribution I’d fully support it. If there was one of those ring-fenced pots of money became available nationally that we could tap into like they did a few years ago with the foreshore project, I would absolutely support it.
“I totally support this council taking it forward with the new unitary and trying to get some support for it but I do feel what Paul has said about getting the theatre involved is important.”
