Members of an “at risk” theatre have hit out at plans to demolish the building and replace it with a church hall and six flats.

Intimate Theatre in Green Lane, Palmers Green, has been deemed 'at risk' by the Theatre Trust since 2019 after the plans were submitted to redevelop its site.

The theatre is owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, and St Monica’s Catholic Church has used it as a parish community centre since 1988.

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Saint Monica’s Players theatre group has hit out at the diocese’s plans, claiming that the building is still “perfectly fit-for-purpose”.

Warren McWilliams claimed that the group was still “hopeful” that the planned demolition can be halted.

A petition launched in 2018 to save the locally listed building garnered more than 5,000 signatures.

Mr McWilliams said: “The venue still stands and we’d still love to be performing in it.

“We could have had four years now of pantomimes in there filling the venue with music and laughter.”

Planning documents for the proposed development that would replace the theatre claim that the new parish centre would be “more efficient and accessible”.

They add that it would incorporate a “new modern, energy efficient and sustainable building”.

Current proposals also give space for “a temporary performance stage” within the new building, although Warren described the suggestion as “cosmetic” and “not an actual replacement”.

A spoksperson for the Diocese said: "We are pleased with Enfield Council’s planning decision to allow the development of St Monica’s parish centre.

"This environmentally-sensitive design provides appropriate space for the numerous parish projects that serve the local community, as well as much-needed local housing.

"The building presently has restricted access owing to the need for extensive repairs and safety concerns. These issues will be resolved with a new development."

The Intimate Theatre is not alone on the 'at risk' register, and is joined by Tottenham Palace Theatre in Tottenham High Road.

The Grade-II listed theatre has been on the register since 2019 as it is suffering from water damage to both its structure and interior plasterwork.

The Theatres Trust said that although repair work has been carried out on the theatre, “there is still a considerable amount to be done”.

Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan said: “As the true impact of rising construction and energy costs, the cost of living crisis and squeezed council budgets becomes known, the challenge to secure the futures of theatres at risk will be more difficult than ever and there is a real fear that more operational theatres may become ‘at risk’.”