The Arts Trust running Watermans did nothing to promote the venue for years. Complacency or incompetence, who knows? They could have had live music, as they did in the early days, and certainly could have had more, and better, theatre productions.But once the site was earmarked as a prime location for swish new riverside apartments its fate was sealed. People I know who worked there have told me that it was dreadful. There was no impetus from management, happy to let it limp along. Covid did have an impact but the Watermans management came round with the begging bowl asking patrons to bail it out.There's no political will to replace it. Hounslow could follow the Ealing example of compulsory purchase that was applied to the Filmworks development when it stalled, but it won't. Regardless of the affordable housing element the revised Watermans plan is for a 'flexible arts space' (whatever that means) rather than the 'world class theatre' originally promised. Such venues are expensive to build and offer very little to no return for developers, unlike blocks of flats that can generate massive profits in the right area.Strange that you cite building costs. Other development in Brentford has gone on apace, notably the old Heidelberg site, while the old Watermans has lain rotting. There has been nothing to stop the Watermans redevelopment unless the rumours that the developers are in financial difficulties are true.Back to Ealing though. Where do you suggest a potential 1200 seat auditorium be built in or around the Broadway?
Simon Hayes ● 13h