THEATR Felinfach should either be relocated to a new building or have over £1,600,000 spent on upgrading the current building, a report has found.

Ceredigion County Council is considering options for the future of the facility and how it can improve it.

A report discussed by the council’s learning services scrutiny committee said the most likely options were to either relocate the theatre to a potential new area school in the area or for major redevelopment work to improve the current building.

The feasibility study, by architects DARNTON3B, concentrates on renovating the current building to improve it.

But a report to the scrutiny committee by Barry Rees, of the council’s education department, said an alternative option would be to provide a brand new purpose built facility as part of a new area school if that is approved by the authority.

Funding of £575,000 has been promised by the Arts Council of Wales to progress one of the two options.

Mr Rees said: “This feasibility study will be used to form the basis of a development project and a capital application to the Arts Council of Wales and other potential sources of financial support.

“The Arts Council of Wales have allocated a capital sum of £575,000 towards undertaking either of the options detailed below; Option 1, improving the building and its resources - the initial cost estimate outlines that the construction cost (inclusive of theatre and auditorium fit-out) would be in the order of £1.674m.

“Option 2, possible relocation with new theatre build co-located on the proposed site for the Dyffryn Aeron area school (if proposal for new area school approved by council after statutory consultation).”

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now