ANGRY theatre supporters have won a top-level meeting with Arts Council bosses in London next week to thrash out the circumstances surrounding the decision to reject its multi-million pound lottery bid for a new theatre.

Burnley Youth theatre spent £127,000, including £28,000 of its own cash, working up the bid for the new Youth Performing Arts Centre.

But members feel they were often given contradictory advice and guidance by Arts Council Lottery officers, culminating in the application being turned down again.

Burnley Council chief executive and theatre director Roger Ellis, who will be attending the meeting with the Arts Council and North West Arts Board representatives at the House of Commons on Tuesday, said: "I am angry and appalled at the way Burnley Youth Theatre has been treated by the Arts Council.

"We not only hope that next week's delegation brings a positive outcome for the youth theatre but for other voluntary organisations across the country who find themselves in a similar position."

The meeting, arranged by Burnley MP Peter Pike, also a theatre director, will discuss the way the application was handled and clarify the future of the youth theatre's development.

Theatre supporters say the latest bid failed not because of lack of merit, but because the Arts Council changed the funding arrangements.

Mr Pike said: "I was shocked by the decision. The amount of support from BYT's partners, volunteers and friends represents a substantial level of commitment.

"With over 350 young people currently attending theatre activities each week, we can only hope the new building development gets the go-ahead sooner rather than later."

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