Cannock's The Prince of Wales Theatre and The Museum of Cannock Chase are being lined up for closure as part of measures to cut costs at Cannock Chase District Council.

The council said plans to close the venues formed part of budget measures which would protect essential frontline services.

The authority said it was facing a £1.3m shortfall in its 2025-26 budget - which pays for services including waste collection, street cleaning and looking after parks and open spaces.

Closing the museum and theatre could save the council over £350,000 annually, however, the cabinet is committed to gathering the views of residents before making any final decisions.

The consultation is open from 29 November 2024 to 2 January 2025. Feedback will be considered before a final decision is made at the council meeting on 12 February 2025. Find more information here.

Leader of the Council, Tony Johnson, said that this is the hardest decision he’s had to make in 23 years as a councillor and emphasised the importance of resident participation in the consultation. He said, “Completing the survey is crucial because your feedback will help shape the future of our cultural and heritage offer. We are a listening council and open to exploring alternatives that will meet the needs of the community.”

The full report on the ‘Review of Leisure, Culture and Heritage Provision’ can be found from the council’s website here.

Since the announcement, locals have set up two change.org petitions to save the venues. You can sign Save The Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock petition here and Save The Museum of Cannock Chase petition here.