THE future of Ammanford’s Miners’ Theatre has been secured, trustees say.

Following crisis talks with CarmarthenshireTheatres – the organisation set up to promote and protect the county’s three venues – the trustees believe the Miners’ will receive the backing required to ensure it remains a going concern.

Fears for the future of the venue reached breaking point over the New Year after it emerged Carmarthenshire Theatreshadfailed to schedule a single event at the Miners’ throughout the entire threemonth spring programme.

Trustee Peter Pemberton had feared the empty calendar indicated the Miners’ was being forced towards the brink of closure while all available funds and events were being channelled towards Carmarthen’s Lyric and the newmulti-million poundYFfwrnes in Llanelli.

However, following showdown talks last week, the Miners’ has now seen four events listed in the next two months.

“We now no longer believe that the Miners’ Theatre is in danger,” saidMrPemberton.

“Obviously we have never expected to have had the same share of the programme as the larger venues at the Lyric and Y Ffwrnes, but to have had nothing scheduled at all left us fearing the worst.

“However, having voiced our concerns to Carmarthenshire Theatres, the worst of our anxieties have been calmed.”

Mr Pemberton said the positive discussions meant the theatre would be used to host smaller, more community-based events.

“They want tomake the theatre more accessible to a wider range of people in the community,” he said.

“They have told us that there are funds available to assist the trustees in encouraging more local events.”

Scheduled events currently include a dance ensemble, Aladdin, a children’s showwith workshops for youngsters and a drama performed in Welsh and English on the same day.