AN increase in charges for the Albert Halls is pricing out community groups, Bolton’s amateur dramatic community have claimed.

Theatre groups wanting to use the refurbished hall once it reopens face potential venue hire costs of around £750 per performance.

Members of the Bolton Amateur Theatre Societies (BATS) are currently negotiating rates with Bolton Council but say a rise in fees will leave them struggling to put on a show.

Chairman Paul Cohen said: “We understand it is not going to be the same as before but we have costs to pay before we even start using facilities.

“We all have fulltime jobs and do all this for the community for free and we want to be able to do that at a building in the heart of town.

“They don’t seem to understand what we are providing or the costs we have to pay. It is almost coming to a point where we won’t be able to do it.”

Bolton Catholic and Musical Society (BCMS), Farnworth Performing Arts and Bolton Premier Productions all have bookings to use the hall next year.

In 2012 BCMS paid out £33,000 to put on six shows of Grease which included a £4,743 charge to use the hall and facilities over eight days. On the costs currently put forward it could cost them an additional £1,257.

A spokesman for Bolton Council said the hire price- covering all operational and staffing costs - was based on a comparative commercial hire charges for other venues of similar size in the region and included a significant level of discount for the Am Dram societies.

They added: “With the council facing tough budget cuts, it is vital that full consideration is given to the Albert Halls operating in a financially sustainable way in the future.

“No decision has yet been taken on the pricing of its operations to amateur dramatic groups and this will form part of the ongoing process.”

The Albert halls are due to be reopened in the spring.