THE future is now looking brighter for Lyme’s struggling Marine Theatre, say bosses.

The Lyme Arts Community Trust, which runs the theatre, said the venue would be secure if the right decisions and choices were made now.

It was saved from closure in December after Lyme Regis Town Council provided a £30,000 grant to see it through until the end of March.

The town council told the trust it would come under closer scrutiny in future and chairman John Bartholomew updated councillors last week as part of the informal monthly reports.

Mr Bartholomew said: “I think the theatre is secure if we are making the right decisions and choices now.

“We need to be relatively realistic. This is why we are spending so long deciding things and making sure we are creating something that can be financially and artistically viable.”

The trust has employed a professional consultant, paid for by West Dorset District Council, to help develop a new business plan.

It will outline how the theatre can work within its means in future, problems with the building and possible developments, and the benefits of collaborating with similar local organisations.

A public survey will also be carried out within the next month to gauge local opinion.

“Clearly this needs to be the time when everyone has the chance to say what they want from the theatre,” said Mr Bartholomew.

When faced with the threat of closure, trustees were also left bitterly disappointed by the district council’s annual contribution, which was increased recently from £5,000 to £7,000.

They said the council was not helping the Marine Theatre as much as arts venues in Bridport and Dorchester.

The Marine has failed to attract Arts Council funding in the past.

“It’s because we missed the boat,” said Mr Bartholomew. “The time to get into regular funding was at the beginning of this century.”

West Dorset District Council leader Robert Gould said: “WDDC is one of the few councils in the country that is not making any cuts this year, either to services, or funding for voluntary groups and the arts whilst freezing council tax.

“We have already agreed an uplift in funding for the Marine Theatre to £7,500pa this year and next year and future funding will be reviewed in December 2011.”

JOHN Bartholomew claims the district council failed to grasp an opportunity to help the theatre out of its financial crisis.

It was suggested that West Dorset District Council could triple its car parking charges in Lyme Regis and give the extra cash to the theatre.

While setting charges for the 2011/12 financial year, town councillors urged the district council to increase the daily charge at Holmbush and Charmouth Road car parks from £1 to £3.

But district councillors approved an increase to £1.70.

Mr Bartholomew said: “What I’m more dismayed about really is the faintheartedness of West Dorset with their decision to put up the parking from £1 to £1.70.

“This was the opportunity to do something different.

“I accept that there are rules within local government finance which means it’s difficult to put up parking to pay for this and that.

“But I’m absolutely clear that if a local authority is raising more money they can find ways of supporting a cause that is politically prudent.

“This was an opportunity that could have been grasped.”

Town councillor Lucy Campbell said: “Basically they are putting the charge up but local amenities are not going to benefit from it.”

District council leader Robert Gould said: “Car parks are an important source of income and we will be increasing the Holmbush car park charges from £1 to £1.70.”