A petition set up after Southborough Town Council announced it will be closing the Royal Victoria Hall in the next few months has gained nearly 2,000 signatures.

The historic building is set to shut on January 5 after mounting repair costs estimated at more than £200,000 forced the council’s decision.

Members voted unanimously to confirm bookings for the hall up to the end of the annual pantomime and to take no more after that.

The petition asks for the decision to be reviewed, however, the council said it would be impossible to afford all the repairs required including work on the flooring, the roof void and toilets as well as a new boiler and outstanding basic structural work that was estimated alone at £100,000.

Adele Ebbage, chairwoman of the Friends of Royal Victoria Hall and petition supporter said: “Nobody was consulted before the council announced the closure plans so it was a huge, unpleasant shock to us all.

“I’ve grown up with the RVH and have performed there many times so I have a deep seeded interest in the building, as do many other people in the town.

"So many people use the hall on a regular basis, and it just needs repairs and attention. There is no doubt that it needs investment, but there are people out there that are willing to work to keep it.

“All we want the council to do is to review their decision and take into consideration the thousands of people who love this building.”

Council members said they appreciated the public affection for the hall and stressed that the continuing financial challenges were the only reason for the decision.

Chairman Peter Oakford said in a public statement: “We want to reassure residents that we haven’t taken this decision lightly.

"We fully understand why this ancient theatre has a place in the hearts of many Southborough residents, but we have to be realistic.”

The hall suffered a loss off £7,000 in the last financial year and losses for the current year, from April to this month already total more than £11,000.

Mr Oakford added: “We have been fighting for at least the last eight years to my knowledge to find a way to keep the hall open, but the hall always bites back with another problem.

“It’s so important that the community young and old have this building. Especially for it providing affordable family entertainment at Christmas and so on. Please help us ask the council to re-consider” - Samantha Spurgin...

"We even tried reducing the hire fees to encourage greater use, but bookings did not increase and our income went down.

“Our many other commitments across the town, including play areas, the recreation ground and Holden Pond, mean that our reserves are running very low.

“The council cannot afford anything beyond the most immediate repairs to try to meet the theatre’s obligations over the next few months and it would be irresponsible of us to carry on beyond that.”

Plans for the future of the hall have long been discussed as part of the Southborough Hub Development which is considering three options.

The hall could be improved along with other surrounding buildings, the second option is to keep the hall but develop the front and back into residential buildings and the third option to demolish the hall and create a new purpose-built community hub facility.

Council members agreed that closure was the only option, irrespective of plans to build a new Southborough Hub, put forward by KCC and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in conjunction with the town council.

Samantha Spurgin, 26, formerly of Charles Street has signed the petition, she said: “I grew up in Southborough and was in lots of shows at the vic as a kid, Pantomime and local shows.

“Since then I’ve gone on to drama school in London and am now an actress with professional credits in TV theatre and Film.

“I wouldn’t have had half the opportunities that I did whilst growing up to get on stage if it wasn’t for this lovely venue and the loud and supportive local theatre community who use it.

“It’s so important that the community young and old have this building. Especially for it providing affordable family entertainment at Christmas and so on. Please help us ask the council to re-consider."

A full council meeting is being held on Thursday by Southborough Town Council to discuss the issue.