Sutton Council has pledged to “do all it can” to re-open the borough’s two theatres for the community use — a week after it repeatedly refused to say it would look to rescue them.

Last week the authority declined to comment if it would bid to keep The Secombe and The Cryer, which closed last month after the company that ran them collapsed, operating as venues.

RELATED: National theatres body expresses concern as Sutton Council refuses to say if it will look to save troubled venues the Secombe and the Cryer

But in a statement issued by the Sutton Liberal Democrats yesterday, Jill Whitehead, chair of the council’s environment and neighbourhood committee, said that she “recognises the value that many residents place on both buildings and their community use”.

Administrators Herron Fisher were unable to find a buyer willing to keep the collapsed theatres running and held a fire sale of all remaining assets, auctioning off lighting, sound equipment and fittings in a bid to pay off debts.

The lease on the two buildings will now return to the council, and it will be down to the environment and neighbourhood committee to decide their future.

RELATED: Stage fright? Councillor Jill Whitehead refuses to face music on collapsed Sutton theatres

Cllr Whitehead said at a meeting on Thursday, September 15, that she hoped community groups would come forward with ideas about how to make use of the buildings.

She added: “No decisions can be made until the administrators have fulfilled their obligations and returned the buildings to the council. Once that happens, a deadline for formal expressions of interest will be announced.

“The council recognises the value that many residents place on both buildings and their community use.

“And we hope groups will come forward with imaginative and viable ideas about how we can best retain them for the benefit of local residents.”

Sutton Theatres Trust, which took over the running of the council-owned venues in June 2015, went into administration on August 12.

The company collapsed despite running the venues rent-free.