Longstanding Councillor and Chairman of Peterborough Conservatives Association has asked the Council for action on the Broadway Theatre.
The Broadway Theatre has been part of our City since 1937 when it first opedned its doors as the Odeon cinema. In 1991, the cinema showed its last film to the public and was left to fall into disrepair for many years. In 1997 a local man, Peter Boizot MBE, purchased the building and worked hard on restoring it into the venue that we all know today as the 'Broadway Theatre'.
The building is currently for sale with interested parties coming forward to change it into residential housing. However, Councillor John Peach feels very strongly about keeping this iconic building as it is and has approached the Council about it.
In his recent newsletter to Park Ward residents he says: "I think many Park Ward residents will be well aware of the value the Broadway theatre has in the cultural life of our area and of Peterborough.
The Broadway Theatre originally opened in 1937 which explains why it has such a beautiful Art Deco facade. I think that facade is worth preserving and that is the reason for a motion I put to the full Council this week.
I’m not a lawyer, so I don’t know exactly what type of order or process is needed to preserve these architectural features, but I wanted to make sure that we tried to preserve them with whatever powers are available to the council. I want our planning department to consider what action it could take. I am told that we could consider listing the building or asking for it to be acknowledged as a building of local importance or an article 4 direction applied so that consent has to be asked before any changes are made to the facade.
I don’t know what is possible but I do know that it is worth considering whether we can do anything to preserve the appearance of this building and I hope that you will support me in this.
Many residents have commented that we should preserve this great Art Deco style building as it has a lot history for the town and abounds the Park Ward preservation area.
It has many original features including the outside front of the building but also the interior that much of was restored when Peter Boizot bought the building many years ago. He later sold the building for it to continued as a theatre/entertainment venue.
On a different but related matter I would like to see the council doing whatever it can to facilitate the building continues to be used as a quality entertainment/theatre venue. It has been used most recently when Bill Kenwright brought his West End shows to Peterborough on is still used on occasions for visiting bands and choirs" said John Peach.
“We also ask that the council does whatever it can to facilitate its continued use as a quality entertainment venue by whatever means possible” added John.