Interest In Windmill

Both made proposals to the council after the Windmill was advertised two months ago by Arun, which is looking for a new way of running the loss-making venue.

Arun's cabinet of senior councillors will be joined by members of the Windmill Action Group (WAG) and Littlehampton Town Council at the private meeting on January 7.

The interested parties are a company already running an existing, mainly theatrical, venue, and a small-scale theatrical production set-up.

Although WAG has not formally submitted a proposal at this stage, its chairman, Jackie Mallinson, said the group was still looking into the possibility of a trust being formed to run the Windmill, involving all the drama, dance and music groups currently using the cinema/theatre.

Mrs Mallinson said WAG had also sent both interested parties details of how it would like to see the Windmill run in future, as an affordable, community facility, allowing amateur groups to continue to flourish.

Colin Rogers, Arun's services director, admitted he was surprised that WAG had not put forward its own proposal, but was pleased that the two other parties had expressed interest.

Both parties would be expected to go into greater financial detail when they made their presentations.

Mr Rogers stressed that WAG's involvement in the future of the Windmill was crucial. "We would want WAG to be involved in any solution for the future operation of the Windmill, whether it is run by an external concern, or continues to be in-house."

Following the January 7 presentations, a joint meeting of Arun's economic and social scrutiny committees will be held at the end of January, to discuss any recommendations which might be made to the cabinet meeting on February 3.

Arun's cabinet agreed earlier this month that Southern and South East Arts should be approached to explore future funding opportunities for the Windmill.