Theatre access under discussion

City coffers may be raided to improve wheelchair access to Palmerston North’s Globe Theatre.

Providing a covered accessway to the front of the main auditorium, estimated to cost $100,000, was dropped from plans for the facility’s $2.4m makeover, completed in 2014. Without it, people in wheelchairs have to be last in and first out the main door.

The city council has money in its budget to help pay half the costs and is waiting for the trust board to raise its share first. But some city councillors are saying it could become their responsibility as building owners and landlords to fix the problem.

The board’s statement of intent for the next three years says work needs to continue to ensure ‘‘accessibility of the theatre to meet modern building standards and social needs’’.

Trust board chairwoman Maxine Dale said it should not be up to the board to ensure a council building met those standards.

Mayor Grant Smith said it had become clear to him that the council, as landlord, should look after the building.

‘‘Fitting out the kitchen beyond the basics should be up to the trust board. But things like accessibility are the landlord’s responsibility.

‘‘To lumber the theatre trust board with building a pathway is a little unusual and a little unfair.’’

Arts, culture and heritage committee chairwoman Rachel Bowen said after the meeting the building met building code standards as it stood.

But, as the trust board carried out improvements to the rigging back stage or developed kitchen facilities, that could trigger the need to raise other standards, including access.

‘‘It is a discussion we have to have, about priorities, especially if they want to do things that trigger the need for upgrades.

‘‘If what they are saying is that there are compelling reasons, we as a council might have to take more of a lead, but I’m not sure we are in that place yet.’’