PLANS for a £2.5 million purpose-built community arts complex in Dalton-in-Furness have been unveiled.

The Dalton events committee – set up in 1999 to oversee events during the millennium – came up with the idea about a year ago.

The Dalton Partnership Trust has now been formed to take the project forward and £5,000 of regeneration cash has been secured from Dalton Town Council and Barrow Borough Council to carry out a feasibility study.

Chairman of the trust and the vicar for the parishes of Dalton, Askam and Ireleth, the Rev Allan Mitchell, said there was a “great need” for such a facility in the town.

“The Furness Music Centre is creating so many singers and musicians but there is nowhere big enough for them to perform,” he said.

Director of the music centre, Anastasia Micklethwaite, said she currently used St Mary’s Church and Dowdales School to stage performances.

Miss Micklethwaite said: “Some people don’t like coming to the church because it is a religious place and the school can only accommodate about 150 people. We have used the castle but that can only hold 70 and the time we had 120 people and 70 performing in the dance studio at the centre, everyone was really crammed.

“Something along the lines of the Victory Hall in Broughton-in-Furness would be ideal”.

Mr Mitchell’s vision for the Romney Arts Centre includes a 300-seat auditorium, a restaurant, a wine bar, an educational block and accommodation.

A feasibility study is to be carried out at the beginning of next year to identify a site for the centre and to find out if there is a need for the facility.

Mr Mitchell said: “We will be able to run music and singing master classes, weekend and week-long courses which will attract people to the area.

“We will also get artists from around the country to perform at the centre”.

Mr Mitchell said the arts venue would also help to regenerate the area.

“Every year the animal park attracts 100,000 visitors. We need to tap into that by attracting them to the arts complex and other places Dalton has to offer. I also believe the centre would create 20 to 25 jobs,” he said.

Plans for the centre are to be discussed at the Dalton Partnerships Trust’s annual meeting in St Mary’s Parish Centre on Monday, October 20, at 7pm.

“We would like a really good turnout at the meeting as it is important that we get the backing from the local community for us to take the project forward,” said Mr Mitchell.

Anyone who would like to voice an opinion on the project can log onto www.romneyartscentre.org.