DRAMA and arts groups in Bolton have claimed the council has shown no interest in supporting them.

Groups looking to hire the Albert Halls say a lack of communication over hire costs has left them fearing they could be priced out.

Bolton Symphony Orchestra has cancelled provisional bookings at the venue after suspecting it could be charged in the region of £1,500 for rehearsal time and a one day concert.

Chairman Robert Aston said: “It has taken a long time to pin down the council on what the costs would be.

“There is a lot of anxiety and confusion in the community and part of this is a feeling of disillusionment.

“The council is supposed to be supporting local culture and the community. I understand it needs to generate income and is under financial constraints but the way forward is not to penalise local amateur and community groups.

“It is a public hall but if public groups are priced out, doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”

The orchestra previously had an arrangement where the hire costs were covered by splitting the profits from the event 50:50 with the council.

Now the charity group says they will be charged £750 for the hiring of the hall for a concert, plus set up and ‘take down’ costs on the day of £500 and VAT of £250.

There are also additional costs of rehearsal time, estimated at around £200, and a £500 charge if they want to use the hall’s piano.

Mr Aston has written to mayor of Great Manchester Andy Burnham about the “bleak prospect for amateur arts and culture in Bolton”, expressing concerns that council leader Cliff Morris has been given the portfolio for managing the new funding for Greater Manchester from Arts Council England.

Stating he meant no personal attack on Cllr Morris, he believed the council had made a “steady and continuous reduction” in support to the local arts scene.

Cllr Morris responded by saying he and the council did appreciate the amateur and community groups and a subsidised rate was available for non-professional acts such as amateur dramatics and charity groups.

He added: “The VAT has nothing to do with us, the Government has introduced it.

“We have heavily subsidised but at the end of the day that is what has been agreed.”

Bolton Amateur Theatre Societies (BATS) chairman Paul Cohen has been involved in helping to negotiate booking arrangements for various societies.

He said they wanted to see a price structure for hiring the hall but as yet one had not been forthcoming.

He added: “We had a meeting in July but they haven’t shared it with us yet.

“We need to know sooner rather than later. It has put people off as they realise the VAT would also put the price up.

“We want to get back into the Albert Halls for the shows, for the people of Bolton but there’s a danger that could stop if we can’t afford it.” Bolton Council said the cost per performance at the halls had increased from £600 to £750 and most of the amateur dramatic societies have rebooked for 2018.

Assistant director Donna Ball said: “Bolton Council has established a cultural partnership for the Albert Halls and non-professional and professional acts form part of this.

“The cultural partnership works with the Bolton music service, amateur dramatics groups, the Octagon Theatre and many more to ensure a mixed provision is provided at the Albert Halls.

“However, the main aim for the Albert Halls is to operate as a commercial enterprise in order to secure its own future.”