A NEW £3m scheme to build a community theatre and day nursery has been backed by a council.

The development proposed by Gravesham Council will include a 120-seat theatre, a children’s nursery, a cafe, public toilets and a car park.

The theatre will provide a new home for the Gravesend and District Theatre Guild in Vale Road, Northfleet and an office for Gravesham’s Arts Council.

The proposal comes after a feasibility study carried out by the Kent Architecture Centre.

If the development goes ahead it will be built in the north west corner of the Woodlands Park, replacing the dis-used and heavily vandalised Pavilion building and the public toilets which are currently there.

The council owned theatre will provide improved facilities, such as a bigger stage with wings and rehearsal rooms.

It will stage performances from smaller semi professional and amateur drama groups.

The council is now seeking contributions from the lottery and other arts bodies to fund the project.

Leader of the council, Councillor Mike Snelling said: “This is early days but the project is impressive and gives us the chance to upgrade one of the borough’s most popular parks, it is an opportunity not to be missed.

“We will be pressing very hard to raise the money to move this scheme forward.”

A spokesman for the council said: “The Theatre Guild in Vale Road is quite small and ill equipped.

“This new theatre will provide much better facilities.

“It will also provide a public car park, which the Woodville Halls does not have.

“The idea is that the theatre will attract the smaller theatre companies who would not perform at the Woodville Halls, as that is a more popular venue for professional productions.”