Apathy fears over Ludlow Assembly Rooms' future

JUST 35 PEOPLE have booked tickets to attend a crunch meeting this week to discuss the future of Ludlow Assembly Rooms, it was revealed today.

A public meeting to map out the way forward for the 300-seater theatre will be held on Thursday following a decision by the Arts Council to cut £60,000 of annual funding.

But staff are concerned at the lack of interest in the town so far.

Today they issued a rallying cry for people to book their places and offer their own ideas to secure the future of the theatre.

The meeting will be held in the main auditorium at Ludlow Assembly Rooms, which seats up to 300 people. Tickets are free but should be booked in advance.

Dido Blench, the venue's marketing manager, said: "This is about the future of Ludlow Assembly Rooms and we will be talking about the options available to us and what people think of them.

"We also want people to let us know what ideas they have and to tell us what they want from Ludlow Assembly Rooms as an arts and community centre.

"So far only 35 places have been booked.

"We are pretty hopeful that's because people are planning to just show up on the night but the more input we have from people in the town the better and we really need a good turnout.

"We rated really highly on all the Art's Council's criteria but as far as they were concerned we are not in the right place. I think they took the view that people can access arts by going to Shrewsbury and Hereford.

"People in Ludlow may not feel the same way about making 50 mile round trips for arts entertainment.

"We also have a lot to offer as a community venue, and while the Arts Council was only funding the arts side of things the fact we have lost that cash means the community side is threatened too."

Tickets for Thursday's meeting can be booked by calling the box office on (01584) 878141 or by visiting www.ludlowassem blyrooms.co.uk

By Peter Kitchen