Independent mayoral candidate Peter Dawe and his Peterborough running-mate Mark Ringer announced today they have made an unsolicited offer to take over the Broadway Theatre Peterborough.

They claim two previous owners of the theatre have invested millions in the venue but have lacked a viable management team to make it successful.

Mr Dawe says he has “empowered” Mr Ringer to create a management team for the theatre.

He said there are plans to promote and book a wide range of shows and events, with the ambition to have the theatre open seven days a week, with shows, music and other events in both the main theatre and the other spaces.

Mr Dawe said they had secured sufficient funding to take over the theatre but are looking for additional funds to extend and improve the planned programme.

They plan to run the theatre as a not-for-profit community interest company but investors will get a commercial return.

Mr Dawe said: “This Broadway project, the Fenland modular homes project and the Cambridge electric vehicles project, are examples of how visionary leadership can deliver without statutory powers or taxpayers money.

“I believe I can transform local government into one where it can deliver a better Cambridgeshire through partnership, not as the sole and controlling provider of good in the county.”