Titchfield Festival Theatre is extremely disappointed that Fareham Borough Council is continuing with its ongoing vendetta against the theatre, following the Council’s submission of a Planning Enforcement Notice in relation to TFT’s new 450 seat Arden theatre.

Titchfield Festival Theatre is an incredibly successful community theatre company supported by thousands throughout the borough and wider area. It is the largest community theatre in Europe as well as being the only fully sustainable green theatre in Europe. Yet despite this and the support it receives from its patrons and supporters, the theatre continues to face opposition from the Council to its important community activities.

Kevin Fraser, TFT’s Artistic Director said:

“The site at St Margarets Lane Titchfield has been in continual use as a theatre facility for 13 years now, a fact which Fareham Borough Councillors are completely aware of. 10 years in constant use is significant, as the use is deemed as lawful after this period of time. Internal works contained within that same site need no planning permission only building regulation; this is a key fact that the Council fails to point out in their press release.

“Much has been made of parking issues. The theatre is surrounded by unused, unfarmed derelict land owned by HCC. We have asked on repeated occasions since 2010 to rent, lease or purchase this land to alleviate the parking problem. FBC Councillors (bearing in mind that some of them are also HCC Councillors, including the leader of Fareham Council) we know, have stymied our approaches, HCC refuse to discuss the matter, despite the fact that over the years the rental income would have far exceeded any other income from this unused land. As recently as September 2023 we made further approaches to HCC. Nothing has happened, no reply as usual.

“However, the parking spaces available – on site, the nursery next door and at the nearby Holiday Inn – are close to the guidelines recommended by Hampshire County Council. Don’t forget that many other theatres – such as Kings Theatre in Portsmouth – have no dedicated car parking at all! The site is also easily accessible from the A27 and is not inaccessible as FBC claims.

“The Council also states in its Press Release that the new Arden theatre would lead to a significant increase in noise affecting neighbours. Since this theatre opened, there have been NO complaints. Actually, there have been no objections from residents since TFT opened at St Margarets Lane in 2010; indeed, you can barely hear any noise whatsoever outside of the building. Furthermore, most shows end at 10.00pm and it takes little more than 10 minutes for patrons to leave the site.

“TFT is proud that it has turned around a disused factory site that it has occupied as a theatre for over 10 years, and has spent £1.7m of their own money making it into the largest community theatre hub in Europe. We produce more than 40 shows a year at absolutely no cost at all to the public purse. Compare this with an ailing town centre with a theatre that was costing over £350k a year to keep going and that the council is now spending £17.1m on refurbishing to give it to a commercial operator at peppercorn rent.

“TFT’s lawyers have already contested this action by Fareham Borough Council and requested the authority to withdraw it.

“Titchfield Festival Theatre will continue to resist these bully boy tactics to try and destroy something that is only good for the general population of Fareham and beyond.”