Cash plan passed for theatre

COUNCILLORS in Northumberland have agreed to pump more than £4 million into the Berwick Maltings Theatre regeneration project. The money will be used to address cashflow for the project and will be reimbursed from Borderlands funding once the project's business case is approved.

- JAMES ROBINSON Local Democracy Reporter

The Maltings is being revamped as part of a major £28.34 million scheme primarily funded through the Borderlands deal. The money has already been agreed, but money is needed now to ensure the business case can be submitted.

Once this is done, the full £25 million will be released by the Borderlands and the council's £4.04 million spend will be reimbursed. The money will be taken from projects in this year's capital programme, but where it will not be spent this year.

This includes £1.9 million towards the Ashington Town Centre Infrastructure upgrades. At Wednesday's meeting of the county council, Reform UK councillors raised concerns that Ashington would miss out at the expense of Berwick.