BOURNEMOUTH council has welcomed plans to invest in the town’s pier, even though the move would mean the closure of the Pier Theatre.

As revealed by the Daily Echo, operator Openwide International, which took a 25-year lease on the pier from the council in 2006, wants to close the theatre and turn it into an all-weather indoor sports attraction.

It has now submitted its application for a change of use to planners.

Deputy leader of the council Cllr John Beesley told the Echo he had not given up hope of the theatre staying open if sales rose this summer and a profit was made.

He said: “Openwide appears to be making every effort to stage quality ‘end of the pier’ entertainment, and has done so for the last five seasons.

“They have committed to a summer programme for the Pier Theatre during 2011, including a flagship production of High School Mania, certainly very ‘of the moment’ and a real test of the market appetite for live, pier-based entertainment.

“Openwide is a very experienced leisure operator. It is only reasonable that Openwide considers alternative leisure options on the site, should this season continue the downward trend in popularity of the venue in its current form.

“Indeed, I am pleased Openwide is prepared to invest further in our pier in what could prove to be a successful attraction.

Many have already expressed their dismay at the plans – one producer is launching a campaign to save the venue and Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns has backed keeping it open.

But Openwide says it has lost around £400,000 on the theatre in the past five years. Last year, just 16,000 tickets were sold compared to 205,000 at the Pavilion.

Cllr Beesley said it had to be recognised that live entertainment was well catered for in Bournemouth and beyond, while wet-weather family attractions were “less abundant”.

“We recognise the Pier Theatre has been a popular facility in the past and is held in great affection by some residents,” he said. “Openwide has given a commitment to respect the structural integrity of the original building while potentially bringing something new and dynamic to the town.

“The council has made a commitment to encouraging and facilitating all-weather attractions that boost business in the town by appealing to visitors and residents.”