Despite the lease of the Astor Theatre being handed back to the district council today, a decision about who will manage it is yet to be made.

At a public meeting packed with supporters on Tuesday, three prospective management organisations presented their proposals to Deal Town Council.

The feeling among the public is that the theatre is a “piece of gold dust,” and it should be preserved for the community, but Mayor Cllr Bill Gardner was unable to say when the decision will be made until the lease arrangements between the district and town council are confirmed.

The proposals presented at the meeting included an 18-month-in-the-making plan of attack from James Tillitt, chief executive of Deal Arts Management.

The organisation is a Community Interest Company, combining a charitable and profit-making approach to get the theatre back on an even keel.

An individual proposal to become theatre manager was also presented by Harold Worth, who comes from a musical background and has been involved with the theatre in the past. He said his past involvement, and being able to see where past charity trust chairman Jon Johanson went wrong, would steer the theatre in the right direction.

And a proposal from the owners of the Sea Cafe on Walmer Green to take care of hospitality, and provide a restaurant, was also heard.