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Plans have been unveiled this week for a new theatre and conference centre on the Lion Street site in Rye. Sussex South Coast College who own the FE centre site at Lion Street, have proposed a new housing development when the library re-locates to the High Street at the end of the year.

But the move has been met with stiff opposition in the town from those who say the site, which was given as a bequest to Rye, should be retained for community use.

Now a group of local professionals have come up with an ambitious plan which would see a new community venue which would include a theatre, education facility and could also be used as a cinema and conference centre.

The project was announced when Rye Town Council met on Monday and will be called The Fletcher Arts & Education Centre after the famous playwright John Fletcher.

The plans will see the existing facilities for Further Education retained and developed. Mike Eve said "The Lion Street site has been part of Rye's heritage for over 130 years, firstly as a school, but the for last 40 years as the library and the centre for adult and further education. We don't plan to just save it as an architectural monument, but we are committed to turning Lion Street back into a vibrant and, as in the not too distant past, much used centre for all the people of Rye.

"The Art Room, a very important and much loved space in the artistic heritage of Rye will be renovated and retained. Under SCCH's previous plans it would have been lost to housing.

"We plan to offer entertainment with a cinema, which Rye hasn't enjoyed for a couple of gnerations and theatre, as well as educational facilities. And the good news is it will bring economic benefits to Rye as well as creating jobs for local people."

The original plan of the Fletcher Theatre Community Interest Company was to work with the owners of "The Monastery" on Conduit Hill. But when SCCH's plan for the FE Centre in Lion Street became public, the Fletcher Theatre CIC undertook a site survey there.

"Peter Horne who has been the Technical and Production Management of Glyndebourne Opera, drew up some plans for the site, showing what could be achieved with imagination and the co-operation of the different interested parties."

The project would also see a dedicated Adult Education Officer and a modern 100 seat venue.

Mike Eve said "This would be a destination for all the people of Rye and the surrounding communities and a reson for visitors to stay a little longer and spend a little more.

"SCCH gets to dispose of a costly building at an agreed figure and is seen as being a partner in saving an important asset for Rye.

"South Coast College Hastings has been contacted so that discussions can be commenced and an application for a feasibility study grant has been made to the Social Investment Business Community Builders Fund. Other sources of funds are being approached.

Departing college Principal, Sue Middlehurst has already said that she is open to offers for the site at the market value.

Money raised, she says, will be put back into local education with the construction of a new Skills Centre in the grounds of Rye College.

Fletcher Theatre CIC was set up by interested parties to provide a permanent home for the arts in Rye, while promoting the name of one of Rye's ost famous sons John Fletcher.

Fletcher was an important 17th Century playwright and collaborator with William Shakespeare. He was born in the house which is now Fletcher's Tea Room - next door but one to the proposed Fletcher Arts & Education Centre.