A REQUEST for a council contribution of £160,000 towards the Shelley Manor project has been refused.

The Friends of Shelley Manor asked Bournemouth council to pay £40,000 towards the cost of equipment for the Boscombe theatre and £120,000 towards the Shelley Heritage Project.

Bournemouth council had originally agreed to contribute £500,000 towards the fit-out of the theatre but this was subject to certain preconditions being met.

Cabinet members turned down the Friends’ request for funds after hearing that these conditions had not been met. In particular, developer Charles Higgins Primary Care Limited have not yet prepared the theatre for fit-out.

Cllr John Beesley, deputy leader of the council, said: “These criteria are absolutely crucial if we are to use council money to support the remainder of this project.”

Cllr Chris Wakefield, representative of the Friends of Shelley Manor, said they were grateful for the council support they had previously received and understood the reasons for their decision.

“Just to reassure everybody, the Charles Higgins Partnership are going to develop the theatre and the Friends group will be supporting them,” he said.