ONE of Oxfordshire's top theatre venues is preparing to shut down for three months.

The Theatre, Chipping Norton, has decided it cannot allow any more leaks through the building's gallery roof, and needs to sort out the problem as a matter of urgency.

West Oxfordshire District Council's uplands planning sub-committee gave the go-ahead for structural changes, and work can now begin in the summer.

The Theatre management has only booked a programme of shows, films, and music through to July 15.

Chris Durham, general manager at the Spring Street venue, said yesterday: "The work needs doing. We have to do something about the leaks."

Architects have come up with designs for a pitched roof, which will also provide an extra working area for the youth theatre and offer more workshops.

The council's planning department received objections from four nearby residents in Goddards Lane, Horse Fair, and Spring Street. They claim they will have to put up with extra noise and loss of light on their properties.

Planning officer, Jonathan Westerman, however, recommended approval and strict conditions on the materials used.

The Theatre attracts 47,000 customers a year, 60 per cent of them from outside West Oxfordshire, boosting the management's claim that their presence is a vital part of the area's tourist industry.

Mr Durham added that the design, aimed at solving the leaky roof problem, also allows them some additional space in the listed building.

He said: "It's extremely useful given our cramped site.

"We have a strong youth theatre, and there's always been demand for more opportunities for them with workshops, etc."

The Theatre's popular summer holiday youth scheme will be going ahead in village halls and schools across the district.

The last show for a while will be on Sunday, July 15, at 8pm, with the British swing band King Pleasure & Biscuit Boys.