Futurist groups argue as council delays decision
Business plan not met with glee by campaigners
A war of words has broken out between two groups trying to save Scarborough’s Futurist Theatre.
As reported i n The Scarborough News, Leeds-based businessman Jamie Hudson has submitted a business plan to Scarborough Council in a bid to take over the demolition-threatened building.
However, the bid has not met with the approval of Futurist campaigner Patricia David and her Save the Futurist Campaign.
In a Facebook post Ms David called the bid a “pointless diversion”.
She wrote: “This week has s een at i me- consuming pointless diversion in the form of a company who had, unknown to us, decided to put in a bid to take over the Futurist, and raised a lot of hopes totally unnecessarily.
“He did not know anything about us and what we are doing, and not unreasonably thought he was on a mission to save the building.
“However, he was informed on Sunday last, when he contacted the Save the Futurist Campaign official Facebook site, that there was no point in putting in the bid, because legally the c ouncil cannot accept it, or enter into any discussions, because they are now in discussions with a preferred bidder, and in any event the closing date for bids was August 15.
“He caused us and themselves no end of trouble, when, of course, it appeared in the public domain.”
In response a spokesman for Mr Hudson said: “Futurist Sound and Light Ltd are shocked by the comments made by Patricia David.
“We are both working towards a common goal to see the Futurist Theatre s aved, restored and reopened. We find it difficult to understand the negative attitude towards our proposals and are concerned of the far reaching implications of such comments.”
A decision on the theatre, due to be taken tomorrow, has been postponed indefinitely by the council.