WARRINGTON Borough Council has been warned the chances of the town becoming Britain's City of Culture in 2021 without a theatre are minimal.

Cllr Dan Price (LAB – Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall) will lead a panel of experts to decide if Warrington should throw its hat into the ring for the title following last year's damning Royal Society of Arts heritage report.

The authority previously confirmed it had 'no plans' to include a theatre in the town centre as part of the regeneration project.

However, council chief executive Steven Broomhead this week said the 'issue of whether or not to include a business case' for such a facility will be considered if the town decides to make a bid for the culture title.

Warrington and District Arts Council (WADAC), together with the Civic Society and the Theatre 4 Warrington (T4W) group, is sponsoring a new initiative to develop a theatre in the town.

There is set to be a meeting in the Town Hall on June 27, which will be addressed by Michael Berry and other speakers from Blackburn's Empire Theatre.

The site has been labelled 'a very successful venture building' with mainly voluntary supporters.

Long-standing WADAC member Celia Jordan, who will chair the meeting, is continuing her efforts to influence the council to back plans for a similar facility in the area.

And without one, she believes the chances of a successful City of Culture bid are slim.

She said: "I am delighted to see that Warrington has an ambition to be the City of Culture in 2021. However, I can't really take it seriously.

"Warrington has no theatre. That is bad enough in a town of 210,000 population but incredible to believe that we would be considered for this accolade."

If a bid is lodged for Warrington to succeed Hull, which will hold the title in 2017, it is believed it could cost the council in excess of £100,000 but Town Hall figures insist it is too early to speculate about the figure.

Mr Broomhead said: "The council has agreed, in principle, to consider submitting a bid for City of Culture 2021.

"Cllr Price will lead a group of individuals within the town who have experience in the areas of culture, leisure and the private sectors.

"The main aim of the group will be to consider the feasibility of the proposal and the potential sustainable economic benefits to the borough.

"The costs of a bid, if it is decided to make one, would be covered on a partnership basis by both the private and public sector.

"The cost of making a bid will be a key consideration of the group as part of the feasibility test.

"The issue of whether or not to include a business case for a theatre will be considered later if it is decided to make a bid. The group will convene within the next couple of months."

Warrington Civic Society is supporting the town's 2021 City of Culture bid – but called for 'cost implications' to be investigated.

In a statement the group said it welcomes 'any opportunity to celebrate' architecture, heritage and the historic environment.

"Warrington Civic Society supports, in principle, a bid for the City of Culture 2021," it added.

"While the feasibility and cost implications need to be investigated further, the benefits could be substantial.

"As well as the economic impact, a strong bid could help build pride in the town and strengthen the sense of community."

The Government said it is the 'responsibility' of each area to develop its own bid using its 'own resources and those of its partners'.

The meeting on June 27 will commence at 7pm. Anybody interested in having a theatre in the town is urged to attend.

For further information call 07730 567138 or e-mail wadac@outlook.com.

The winner of the bid will be announced in 2017.