FUNDS to replace a much-loved theatre roof are attempting to be secured as the council has applied for a large grant.

Halstead Town Council is eager to replace the town’s Empire Theatre roof and has now applied for a National Lottery grant to support their efforts.

The council says The Empire roof has been deteriorating steadily over the past few years.

With minor repairs to falling slates, and sometimes more major costs if water penetrates, it has been costing at least £500 per year over the past few years, and it is only possible to patch up.

The plans to re-roof the Empire have been discussed previously, and the desire to complete the plans was mapped out for the 2021/22 year in the Halstead Town Council Mayor and Chairman’s report from last May.

In the August council meeting, the prospect of allocating £40,000 to the replacement of the Empire Theatre roof was discussed.

In the last town council meeting, Councillor Malcolm Fincken proposed the Town Clerk should apply to the National Lottery for funding, which was seconded by Councillor Andrew Munday.

However, estimates for the roof replacement have increased dramatically since they were last given before the pandemic.

In addition, all contractors are saying that new slates are needed.

The amount saved in earmarked reserves will not now cover the cost of the replacement.

Quotes vary with the cheapest being £50,167.20, which would see the company reuse some of the old slates.

The highest quote was £102,909.93, which includes the replacing of some of the slates with solar slates which will generate electricity.

Whilst this option will be more expensive, the council has said this will save energy costs in the long run.

The council has said an initial enquiry has been made, with the installation of solar slates likely to be viewed favourably by the lottery.

Quotes are also being gathered for the application of a new film projector.

A Halstead Town Council spokesman said: “It will be 12 weeks before we hear anything, so maybe by Christmas.

“The Empire is so important, as no other place in town provides that entertainment, and it does an awful lot of good, for example the dementia cinema, children’s events and choir

“It really helps the community.”