This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/6363145.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Theatre votes no on Scots charge | Theatre votes no on Scots charge |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| A theatre in England, which had proposed to charge Scots more for tickets, has decided against the move. | A theatre in England, which had proposed to charge Scots more for tickets, has decided against the move. |
| The Maltings in Berwick, which is local authority funded, had requested £50,000 from Scottish Borders Council, claiming 41% of its patrons were from the area. | The Maltings in Berwick, which is local authority funded, had requested £50,000 from Scottish Borders Council, claiming 41% of its patrons were from the area. |
| After the council refused, the theatre considered raising ticket prices for all those living outside Berwick, including those north of the border. | After the council refused, the theatre considered raising ticket prices for all those living outside Berwick, including those north of the border. |
| However this week, its board voted against the proposal. | However this week, its board voted against the proposal. |
| The move comes after SNP MSP Christine Grahame contacted the Commission for Racial Equality in Scotland which advised that the theatre could be in breach of the Race Relations Act if it went ahead with the proposal. | |
| 'Huge mistake' | 'Huge mistake' |
| The organisation said the proposed pricing policy could amount to "indirect discrimination" against Scots wishing to attend performances. | The organisation said the proposed pricing policy could amount to "indirect discrimination" against Scots wishing to attend performances. |
| The South of Scotland MSP said: "This has clearly been a public relations nightmare for The Maltings and I don't think it will have done anything for ticket sales. | |
| "They have made a huge mistake and are now being forced to backtrack with some speed." | "They have made a huge mistake and are now being forced to backtrack with some speed." |
| It was ironic, added Ms Grahame, that one of their major sponsors was the Glasgow-based charity, the Robertson Trust, which had previously awarded the theatre a £5,000 donation. | |
| However, Maurice Ward, a board director of The Maltings, denied allegations that the proposal had been in any way racist. | |
| "Our plan was to raise ticket prices, but offer a discount for those living in Berwick-Upon-Tweed," he said. | "Our plan was to raise ticket prices, but offer a discount for those living in Berwick-Upon-Tweed," he said. |
| It's got nothing to do with England and Scotland. Maurice Ward | It's got nothing to do with England and Scotland. Maurice Ward |
| "If we had put the ticket prices up everyone outside the borough would have had to pay the higher charge. It just so happens that one of our borders is a national one. | "If we had put the ticket prices up everyone outside the borough would have had to pay the higher charge. It just so happens that one of our borders is a national one. |
| "But it's got nothing to do with England and Scotland, he said. | "But it's got nothing to do with England and Scotland, he said. |
| He insisted other councils had run similar schemes in the past in which local residents had been given cheaper ticket prices to reward regular attendance. | He insisted other councils had run similar schemes in the past in which local residents had been given cheaper ticket prices to reward regular attendance. |
| "People who live in Berwick are already paying for the theatre through their council tax so it seemed reasonable that they should be offered some kind of benefit," he added. | "People who live in Berwick are already paying for the theatre through their council tax so it seemed reasonable that they should be offered some kind of benefit," he added. |
| Continuing negotiations | Continuing negotiations |
| "We said at the time that if people from the Borders weren't happy they should lobby their local MP to offer more support to the Maltings." | "We said at the time that if people from the Borders weren't happy they should lobby their local MP to offer more support to the Maltings." |
| The arts centre will continue negotiations with Scottish Borders Council, according to Mr Ward, who did not rule out the possibility of introducing a discount scheme for Berwick residents in the future. | |
| Berwick Borough Council gives a £254,000 subsidy to The Maltings with £128,000 of that to cover running costs and maintenance. | |
| A spokesperson for the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) Scotland said: "In this instance it is possible that what the theatre proposed could fall under the indirect discrimination provisions of the Race Relations Act as statistically Scottish people might be less likely to live in Berwick itself but may nonetheless form a significant part of the theatre's wider catchment area." | A spokesperson for the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) Scotland said: "In this instance it is possible that what the theatre proposed could fall under the indirect discrimination provisions of the Race Relations Act as statistically Scottish people might be less likely to live in Berwick itself but may nonetheless form a significant part of the theatre's wider catchment area." |
Previous version
1
Next version