THE leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has done little to ease fears for the future of the Assembly Hall theatre – suggesting one of the town's historic musical groups could perform in Tonbridge.

Chairman of Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra Ralph Hebditch was left "flabbergasted" after the council leader was unable to confirm if there would be a replacement theatre should the 970-seater venue be closed.

The council is reviewing the future of the theatre, which opened in the 1930s as it develops a plan to quit the Town Hall and redevelop the landmark civic centre site.

At a meeting with Roy Bullock and Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society on Tuesday Mr Hebditch was told the town needed " 40 percent more retail units" but an alternative performing arts venue was currently not on the cards.

"I tried to explain we were fighting for our lives," said Mr Hebditch.

"Everybody says we have got masses of empty shops as it is and I don't think we need any more," he added.

However, Mr Bullock insisted "no decisions have been made about the future of the town hall site".

"We all need to work together to ensure no-one is disadvantaged by an possible development," he added.

Mr Hebditch balked at the council leader's suggestion the orchestra look at the 500-seater theatre recently built at West Kent College in Tonbridge .

"That's like asking the London Symphony Orchestra to play in Watford," said Mr Hebditch.

He told the Courier if the Assembly Hall were to close the orchestra would "die".

"We need a 1,000 seater hall for the audience to generate enough income to reach the standard of performance we have at the moment, and we need a stage which can take a 90-piece orchestra," said Mr Hebditch.

Tunbridge Wells Operatic and Dramatic Society, which also uses the theatre to stage its performances was unable to send a representative to the meeting, but has told The Courier the theatre's future was "a big concern".

Mr Hebditch said the younger generation was just as passionate about live performance.

He added: "Last night I went to Trinity Theatre to see a performance of an Alan Bennett play, there was a very large audience of mainly young people in their 20s or 30s who reacted to the performance with loud applause.

"Most of us need to be part of a live performance. We go to a football match because of the excitement of being involved with the action."

Mr Bullock added: "It was a very positive meeting with a free and frank exchange of views. We are having another one in three months' time."