Facts should be available to the public now

I write with regards to recent features and letters on the future of the Futurist theatre and have noted:

1. A full council meeting on January 9, 2017, where our 50 councillors will finally decide on the initial proposal to demolish the theatre taken by eight councillors in 2014.

2. £4m has been earmarked in the council’s 2016 financial strategy for the regeneration of the Futurist site but this is the best guess scenario available at the time for the demolition of the theatre (and 62.9 per cent of the feedback provided disagreed with this money being spent).

3. The final cost implications are only to be made available in the agenda for January 9, 2017, meeting.

One of the key roles of councillors is to effectively represent the interests of their wards and of individual constituents, but how can they understand which option their ward prefers without canvassing their constituents, when all the figures are eventually available.

Surely for such a significant development project there should be a full public consultation when all the facts are known? Do not the residents of Scarborough, who are expected to pay this £4m, have a right to express their opinion based on full details of the pros and cons of demolition or refurbishment? Sheila Vickers South Cliff, Scarborough