STROUD Green Party believes the Sub Rooms should remain in public ownership and be run as a community venue serving both the town and wider district.

In a statement issued by the group they state that the much-loved arts and entertainment centre must be saved, and preserved by examining how to retain the building at a price the council can afford.

They state: "We welcome the full involvement of the Sub Rooms staff in these discussions and encourage them to continue to speak up. We are deeply concerned about reports of staff being disciplined for airing their views.

"This is what austerity looks like, the loss of our Common Wealth, instead of receiving money from central government to deliver local services, these funds are being cut and so by 2019/20 our district council will actually have to pay to central government £0.5 million a year from our council tax. It is outrageous."

There are three options for the Sub Rooms being considered by the district council, retain ownership, hand over to a community group or sell it on the open market.

Some councillors have stated that even if the building is placed on the open market they would push for it to remain as an entertainment venue.

Eva Ward (Green candidate for Stroud Central) said: "One big message from this is that if we want community facilities like the Sub Rooms to survive we have to support and use them.

"We call on those of Stroud District to pack out the much loved Sub Rooms nightly and support the venue so it will survive."

The future of the venue is being reconsidered as it was revealed it cost the council more than £400,000 last year.