More than 1,100 people have signed a petition demanding North Tyneside Council and the elected mayor Dame Norma Redfearn intervene to secure the future of The Exchange Theatre charity.
The performing arts charity has maintained the lease for The Exchange on Howard Street in North Shields for seven years. However, North Tyneside Council has now offered the lease on a long-term basis to Stonebanks Investments following a tendering process.
The decision has proved controversial with the performing arts union, Equity calling for measures to ensure the survival of the charity.
Read More: Charity closing North Shields theatre with 'heavy heart' as new operator prepares to takeover venue
A statement, attached to the Equity petition, claims: "Your decision at North Tyneside Council to appoint a new leaseholder will evict The Exchange Theatre charity from its home of seven years. This is a catastrophic decision that will affect our members' work, and leave the local community at risk of losing a much-loved theatre and community space.
"We are asking you to do the right thing, and ensure that work is not lost during the change of leaseholder; offer The Exchange charity the support they need to find a new venue; ensure that the work produced in The Exchange is done utilising agreed trade union terms.
"We are asking you to Save the Exchange!"
The petition has so far amassed 1,169 signatures.
In response, John Sparkes, director of regeneration and economic development at North Tyneside Council, said: "The Exchange is central to delivering our ambitious plans to develop a vibrant Cultural Quarter in North Shields, which will diversify and expand the town centre offer and drive footfall. We recently went to the market to identify an operator through an open tender process. Unfortunately, the current operator was not successful, and through the Council's Strategic Property Group a new preferred operator has been identified as Stonebanks Investments.
“Stonebanks are prepared to invest significantly into the Grade II listed building and grow the cultural offer and support our wider ambitions for the town centre. The Exchange will remain open during the interior investment plans Stonebanks will be carrying out in the building, meaning the programme of events and services will remain in place.
“Stonebanks have confirmed that all staff have been offered to continue their employment going forward, and all existing bookings will be honoured as a priority, to ensure the delivery of North Shields' cultural offer continues uninterrupted.
"We're working closely with the preferred operator on the transfer of the building and look forward to seeing this cultural landmark flourish in the future."
Paul Stonebanks OBE of Stonebanks Investments said: "I am delighted to be the new custodian of The Exchange in North Shields.
"The building is so outstanding and unique that for me it’s imperative that it connects in the deepest way possible to the entire community. We need to embrace what’s already been achieved and enhance this through investment and engagement with the local, national and international communities.
"The Exchange will help support businesses, entrepreneurship, theatre, arts, music, fitness, wellbeing, families and communities to name but a few. This is a really exciting opportunity and one that means a lot to me as I was born and brought up here and continue to call North Shields my home.
"I would also like to reassure everybody who has existing bookings at the Exchange, these will be honoured as a priority and we are already in discussions to see how we can develop our relationships further to enhance the community.”
According to North Tyneside Council, there is no change to the funding investment from North of Tyne Combined Authority into the Cultural and Creative Zone in North Shields.
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