A REPORT on Chester’s arts provision – including the future of the Gateway Theatre – has been delivered to the new council.

But Chester Performs, who commissioned the £10,000 study, and recipients Cheshire West and Chester Council remain tight-lipped about the contents of the draft version.

The report is eagerly awaited because plans for a replacement Gateway have stalled due to the credit crunch and MP Christine Russell has described Chester as a “cultural desert”.

The study considered stop-gap options such as fully reopening the Gateway or alternatively creating a temporary arts venue as well as the prospect of a multi-million pound permanent centre.

Council leader Cllr Mike Jones, who has not seen the report, confirmed improving arts provision was a priority but warned: “I can’t do everything at once”.

Budgets are tight on the new council with the need to make £30m annual savings compared with the previous local government regime.

Cllr Jones added: “We don’t know what the existing councils have handed over to us yet. We are fighting a bit blind at the moment.”

Council spokesman Ian Callister said: “We are in the process of evaluating a 40-page report from Chester Performs which looks at all aspects of this issue including a range of temporary options.

“This authority will be meeting with the organisation on June 5 to discuss the way forward in providing a performing arts centre for the city.”