Conservatives switch spotlight to Bishop’s Stortford as £30m entertainment venue BEAM Hertford opens
East Herts Conservatives have taken centre stage as Hertford’s £30m theatre opens and are eager to switch the spotlight to Bishop’s Stortford.
The Tories started the project three years ago when the bill was estimated to be less than £20m.
By the time they lost control of the district council last year, costs had increased dramatically. Amid accusations of Tory recklessness, the Green and Liberal Democrat administration had to find an extra £6m to complete the transformation.
Josh Dean, Hertford and Stortford’s new Labour MP, and the theatre’s Cinderella Youth Ensemble officially opened BEAM Hertford on Friday (August 23), heralding “a new cultural era in East Hertfordshire”.
East Herts Council leader Cllr Ben Crystall, of the Green Party, said: “It’s tremendous to see so many of the council’s partners attend the opening of BEAM, a venue which promises to serve our district community for generations to come.
“Much effort has been made by each party involved in the delivery of BEAM. As such, the facilities, the programme and the new team working to invigorate this iconic venue certainly deserve the spotlight this bank holiday weekend. Like Castle Cinema, Castle Hall and Hertford Theatre before it, I look forward to BEAM becoming a cultural landmark at the heart of East Herts.”
The venue incorporates three cinema screens for newly-released films, a 547-seat main auditorium, a second 150-seat theatre space, a dance studio, a riverside café and a bar for cinema-goers.
Cllr Bob Deering, leader of EHC’s Conservative group, said: “The newly revamped theatre will be a fantastic facility for every resident of the district.
“This is a project that was initiated several years ago by the previous Conservative administration. It then took many years of hard work, so I hope it’s not inappropriate that I take this moment to acknowledge this achievement and in particular the huge effort dedicated to the project by the then-leader of the council, Linda Haysey, and all the executive members, including Cllrs Geoff Williamson and Eric Buckmaster, who invested so much time and effort moving the project forward.
“There is no question that we would not now be enjoying the prospect of a new theatre for East Herts had it not been for their drive and commitment.”
Cllr Deering added: “The reopening of Hertford Theatre means three major projects initiated by the previous Conservative administration have now been successfully delivered: Grange Paddocks in Bishop’s Stortford and Hartham Leisure Centre in Hertford, in addition to the theatre.”
Both leisure centres have seen an uptick in use, and Ms Haysey said: “I’m so pleased that the Conservative administration I led for eight years regenerated Grange Paddocks and Hartham.
“The much-increased user and membership numbers speak for themselves. I’m also glad that we redeveloped the theatre. This is very exciting and I’m sure will be a big success.”
When the Greens and Lib Dems pressed ahead with BEAM, they paused spending on a £15.5m arts centre in Bishop’s Stortford. The scheme had already been scaled down by the Tories, who originally proposed a £30m auditorium complex at Old River Lane.
Cllr John Wyllie, the Conservative member for Thorley Manor, said: “I’m of course very pleased to see that East Herts [has got] a much-improved theatre that will benefit our residents and visitors alike.
“However, as a local councillor, I would naturally like to see a similar investment for Bishop’s Stortford. It’s now over a year since the last elections and I’m concerned that the new coalition needs to get to grips with Old River Lane and deliver a benefit to the residents of Bishop’s Stortford, as we had intended to do.”
Cllr Deering agreed: “The glaring omission is Old River Lane. At the time of the elections in May 2023, the development agreement was close to being signed. However, 15 months later it still isn’t, inflation is eating into the funding and there is much uncertainty as to what, if anything, the new administration will do.”
The Greens and Lib Dems are currently consulting on a £1.5m public square, with the potential for a pavilion, on the Charringtons House and car park site.
The plot is part of the wider Old River Lane scheme where Cityheart is expected to develop homes, offices and retail units on the former Causeway car park.
