MYSTERY flooding at a Worcester arts centre could cost more money than the venue can afford for a revamp.

Water has been seeping into Worcester Arts Workshop in Sansome Street sporadically for the last four years. But the cause of the flooding is still not known.

The six inches of water that has seeped up through the wooden floors in the theatre has left the floors ruined.

Although the venue is still putting on smaller acts in the adjoining room to the flooded theatre, the main theatre is currently closed.

It is feared that around £25,000 could be needed to restore the theatre to its former state.

A Worcester musician said the flooding had left a huge void in the cultural life of the Faithful City and has called for another arts venue to take its place.

Jarrod Rone said he recently attended an event held at the venue and was shocked to find the main theatre basement closed.

He said staff at the venue told him lack of funding meant the theatre would remain closed for the foreseeable future.

"The arts workshop as a building has a fantastic potential as a hub for county artists from all disciplines," said the 30-year-old.

"The main theatre was the strength of the venue - without it, and without some continued, proper funding, the potential of the building will remain untapped.

Ridiculous

"This is a ridiculous state of affairs and has left a huge void in the cultural life of the city - there is wealth of talent and creativity in this county that has no realistic platform."

Mr Rone, a musician from The Arboretum, said he first discovered the theatre was flooded on Saturday, March 23, when he went to the venue to see a music, dance and drama cabaret event.

"If it's not viable for the arts centre to be restored, we need to find an alternative site for another arts venue," he said.

John Denton, general manager of Worcester Arts Centre, said the venue received around £23,000 funding from Midlands Arts Centre and £23,000 funding from Worcester City Council annually.

"The insurance assessors need to come back in. We could be looking in the region of £25,000 to restore the theatre," said Mr Denton.

"It's possibly caused by a water leakage from the water mains or water from a water table below the ground. But a water table problem is not covered in our insurance policy.

"The real source is still a mystery.

"It could cost in the region of £25,000 to restore the theatre. It is money way out of our league."

Opinion: P6