A ROMSEY theatre has received a grant of £100,000 from Test Valley Borough Council.

The Plaza Theatre, on Winchester Road, has received a Community Infrastructure Levy grant of £100,000 from the council to go towards work extending the stage house upwards to reach the same height as the majority of the building.

This extension would allow the installation of a lighting grid, rewiring and equipment upgrade.

This is the second round of funding the theatre has received from the council for this work, with Test Valley Borough Council previously approving an initial allocation of £200,000 on November 20, 2019.

The building work could not take place in 2020 as originally planned due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Work is currently planned for May 2023, but inflation has resulted in increased cost quotations, with the £100,000 grant required for the project to move forwards as originally planned.

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Deputy leader of Test Valley Borough Council Cllr Nick Adams-King said: “I’m delighted Test Valley’s Council approved the grants.

“This latest tranche provided just over £500,000 for projects in the Wallops, Vernham Dean and most importantly a grant of £100,000 to the Plaza Theatre in Romsey.

“The Plaza is a fantastic resource, run by the absolutely brilliant volunteers for the benefit of our local community.

“Their plan to extend and improve the theatre has been hit by inflationary pressures, so I’m delighted we were able to step in to ensure the works stay on track.”

Chair of RAODS and borough councillor for Cuperham Cllr Neil Gwynne said: “As Chair of the Plaza, I submitted the grant application so I am obviously delighted that it was approved.

“I am also an elected member for Cupernham ward, so had to step outside of the council chamber when it went through.”

He continued: “I am of course delighted that keeping the Plaza up to date was seen as a worthwhile cause - this particular £100,000 being needed to cope with the huge increase in building costs that have taken place over the last couple of years (the stage house build has been delayed for that time by Covid).”

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“And following Covid, I am delighted to say that ticket sales are now (and have been since September last year) up to pre-Covid levels. As the numerous sellout performances of Cinderella have shown!”

Other community projects that were up to receive funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy included Nether Wallop Playing Fields, which requested £101,000 for the provision of outdoor exercise equipment, playground apparatus, an all-weather running track, wet weather shelter, new seating and wilding improvements at the Playing Fields at Aylwards Way.

Over Wallop Parish Council also requested £269,766 for the construction of a new sports pavilion at Alan Evans Memorial Ground on Salisbury Lane, while Vernham Dean Parish Council requested £33,132 for the provision of new play equipment at Bury Dene Playing Fields to ensure that the facilities are suitable for children of all ages and abilities.

The Plaza Theatre is owned and operated by the Romsey Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society.