Protesters vow to fight Hayes site closure

Protesters have vowed to continue their fight against the closure of a west London theater.

The Beck Theater in Hayes will close on January 13 next year following a dispute over its lease between owner Hillingdon Council and operator Trafalgar Theatres.

At Saturday’s demonstration, protesters highlighted the sense of community the theater has brought to the area.

Hillingdon Council said it was looking for a new manager for the site.

The local authority said it had offered to extend Trafalgar’s lease at a “rent” and continue to be responsible for renovating the building, but would not continue to pay subsidies.

It said it was “no longer appropriate when public finances are under such pressure” and noted that Trafalgar Theaters is owned by a for-profit entity that pays dividends.

In the absence of an agreement, Trafalgar’s contract will end in January and the theater will close while commercial theater consultants find new management, the council said.

But pressure group Back the Beck accused the council of refusing to accept Trafalgar’s offer of a zero-subsidy deal during a three-year trial.

Local authorities deny this.

Trafalgar regularly disputed the council’s claims and insisted that it was proposing to operate on a subsidy-free basis.

Back Beck also said he was concerned the land would be sold to make way for apartments.

Speaking outside Uxbridge tube station, Back the Beck campaigner Jonathan Haynes told the BBC in London: “We have so many people coming to us, many of whom are disabled.

“Tickets are affordable, parking is good.

“It really brings a sense of community, and in an area where there is a lot of ethnic diversity, this place brings people together.”

John McDonnell, the independent MP for Hayes and Harlington, told the BBC: “They believe the council has a different agenda, which may be to allow the theater to close and then sell the land for development.

“We hear that the current operator has offered to operate the Beck Theater without subsidies. Any other council in the country would have jumped at this deal.”

Ian Edwards, the Conservative leader of Hillingdon Council, denies the local authority has refused to accept the new zero-subsidy lease.

He told the BBC in London: “That’s not true. If they (Trafalgar) want to make me such an offer, I will accept it tomorrow.”

“The council is willing to let this property at a peppermint rent, with the council being responsible for external and structural repairs, but without an operating subsidy.”

The council added that it will work tirelessly to ensure the long-term sustainability of the venue as a commercial theatre.

The Beck Theater was built by the council in 1977.