£3.7 million needed to make Torch a beacon (From Western Telegraph)

£3.7 million needed to make Torch a beacon

The Torch Theatre's artistic director is confident he can find the funds needed to turn the Milford Haven playhouse into a beacon for the county.

Peter Doran denied reports that costs for much-needed refurbishment work had ballooned from £1 million to £3.7 million, saying the original estimate was a guess he had made when pressed without any specialist knowledge of the work required.

Originally he had been looking to repair problems with the heating system, leaking roof and box office computer, but when he contacted the Arts Council for Wales it was decided to go even further and improve the facilities to a far greater degree.

Now a proper study of the building has been carried out by experts and they have come up with a more accurate, if far higher, figure.

Mr Doran said: "We have had problems, but now the arts council has said: "Let's look at what else needs doing. We do not have to spend £3.7 million but in an ideal world, we will."

The arts council will provide a large part of the money and now Mr Doran is looking for alternative sources of funding.

He said: "I am reasonably confident of finding the money simply because so much has been ploughed into Cardiff and very little has come to Pembrokeshire. Now the Assembly has said there will be no more spending in the capital.

"After spending £143 million in Cardiff Bay it will be pretty embarrassing for them if we cannot raise less than four million for here."

Mr Doran has now begun meeting National Assembly members and tourist board officials, starting with yesterday's visit by Alun Pugh, minister for culture, sport and the Welsh language.