Ampitheatre plans get green light

The Heavy Woollen Planning Sub-committee unanimously passed the planning application by the Community of the Resurrection to refurbish its open-air amphitheatre at a meeting in Dewsbury Town Hall this afternoon.

Committee member councillor Eric Firth said: “I think it is a fantastic opportunity to bring the theatre back into use, and I will be one of the first to buy a ticket.”

Coun Andrew Pinnock added: “I think the sooner this gets off the ground, the better.”

Plans for the amphitheatre include a rebuild of the stage, new dressing rooms and a car park, and the community now has permission to begin work whenever it is ready.

Guy Laurie, operations manager at the community, said after the meeting: “This is brilliant news – it is the decision that we had hoped for.

“Now the hard work begins. If everything goes to plan, we hope to begin work on the site by the autumn, and be finished by the new year.”

Father Superior George Guiver, the community’s spokesman, added: “To tell the truth, people have nagged us to do this for years!

“We are so happy that this has gone through.”