£12m upgrade casts doubt on future of main Fringe venue

THE biggest venue on the Fringe may be out of action for two festivals because of a £12 million overhaul, it emerged yesterday.

Edinburgh city council plans to press ahead with its controversial plans for the Assembly Rooms, and dismissed claims the project will force producers to quit the building.

William Burdett-Coutts, the director of Assembly Theatre, suggested the building would no longer be viable as a Fringe venue, but councillors and officials insisted they had no plans to review the overhaul.

Steve Cardownie, the council's festivals leader, told Mr Burdett-Coutts to stop claiming "the end of the world is nigh".

The council has vowed to start work on the refurbishment – which will see a complete restoration of the building and the creation of two shop units, three new bars and a restaurant – after the 2010 Fringe. However, the work is expected to last 22 months, so the refurbishment would not be completed until July 2012 – just weeks before the festival gets under way. And there are fears that target could be missed.

Initial estimates were that the project would take about 18 months, but that figure has had to be revised. The cost has also soared from £10 million to £12 million in less than 18 months.

Mr Burdett-Coutts said: "The Fringe has already had one crisis with the box-office situation this year, and if we lose the Assembly Rooms, the council will precipitate another one.

"We're already looking for an alternative building, but to be honest there just isn't one suitable enough."

However, Councillor Cardownie said: "We gave Assembly Theatre three years' notice of these refurbishments and if they decide they don't want to use the renovated venue in 2012, then we would open it up to other operators.

"Bill should stop claiming the end of the world is nigh. We wouldn't lose any sleep if he doesn't want to use the venue again, but I'd be amazed if that is really the case."

Councillor Deidre Brock, the city's culture and sport leader, said: "We plan to invest heavily in the Assembly Rooms to make it a hive of activity all year round. The festival season will continue to be very important, but we need to look at the long-term future for Edinburgh's venues."

An overhaul of the council's flagship arts venue, the Usher Hall, has run far over budget and is at least six months behind schedule.