Readers of this column may recall as far back as last September I wrote that “It would seem there was a sizeable question mark on the Ritz as a home for Amateur Operatic Society productions in the future.”

For some time there have been plans to convert this cinema into a smaller one and to incorporate a supermarket in the building, which would mean the Ritz would lose its stage.

Earlier this month, our council learned they could buy the Ritz for £140,000, but they thought the cost too prohibitive.

The council also had the alternative of a long term lease which would have meant in addition to a heavy rental the responsibility of meeting costly repair bills.

And in view of the imminent formation of the East Northamptonshire District Council, which will take over most of their powers, Rushden councillors felt they couldn’t enter into such long term commitments without the new authority’s blessing.

Lease

Neither, it seems, could they recommend the purchase of the Ritz or entering into a long term repairable lease of the premises. I still feel, however, that the original idea advanced by St. Crispin Townswomen’s Guild that with the help of the town’s organisations, the Ritz could be bought for the use of the town, has considerable merit and should be looked at further.

The question hinges on how much all of us want the Ritz to be retained as a home for amateur societies such as the RATS, Rushden Operatic Society and Sharnbrook Theatre Trust, to name but three of the organisations who regularly use it for their annual productions.

Once the Ritz is converted it will be too late for second thoughts. Surely now is the time for those who care about preserving the Ritz to get together and arrange a public meeting to test opinion and see if the idea is feasible?

If, for example, our council found they only had to raise £70,000 and the remainder was raised by public subscription, they just might feel they could go ahead and buy the Ritz for the use of the town.

It might seem that to raise £70,000 is an impossible task, but given real enthusiasm and the right sort of fund raising organisation, it could be done. After all, we need only look across the water to our neighbours at Wellingborough to see what can be done with a bit of effort. They now have swimming baths as good as any in the Midlands and only because of the efforts of a band of loyal enthusiasts who deliberately set out to raise the necessary cash.

Tradition

A decided spur to their efforts was the promise from their local council of a £1 for £1 subsidy for all the money raised.

Rushden also has a tradition for raising money in a hurry whenever there is a real need. There are some older readers who will recall it was Rushden during the Second World War which was the first town in Northamptonshire to raise £5,000 to buy a Spitfire fighter.

More recently, a magnificent £11,000 was raised in a brilliant two-year campaign to carry out much needed restoration work on the parish church tower.

Surely if sufficient people are interested in Rushden, something could be done to save the Ritz as a home for live entertainment.