From June 1, 2005

The Rose Theatre was due to open in a year’s time – if councillors approved a £3m loan to the project.

Building works were expected to start within weeks to make way for what was hoped to be a world-class theatre in Charter Quay.

Kingston University had also pledged an extra £500,000 to lift the project off its feet.

At the time, politicians and leading public figures dismissed fears the theatre, if financially unsuccessful, would lead to the pouring of taxpayers’ money in the long term.

The plan was called a “window of opportunity” despite the risks. Kingston Council chief executive Bruce McDonald said the council would borrow money at a preferential rate and the interest charged would add about £250,000 to the council’s annual expenditure – reducing as the loan was paid back.

He said: “I look at the economic and social impact before the cultural impact. We are going into this with our eyes wide open.”

Professor David Miles, Kingston University’s vice chancellor for external affairs and business development, said he was willing to invest because he was confident financial structures were in place to attract donors.

The theatre was also expected to bring in £11m a year once it opened.

The Rose eventually opened in 2008.

50 YEARS AGO: June 2, 1965 A developer bought Kingston’s two historic Hawker Factory sites. The factories, in Canbury Park Road, were set to be redeveloped to make way for half-a-dozen units and engineering works. Workmen were also set to tear down the air raid shelters onsite.

25 YEARS AGO: June 1, 1990 Hook residents were livid about the opening of a new sports shop that was given a licence to sell guns. But the shop’s owner, David Channon, insisted the shop, based in Arcade Parade, Hook Road, would only sell shotguns to customers with the proper paperwork for clay pigeon shooting.

10 YEARS AGO: June 1, 2005 Travellers put up a fight to stay on NHS land they had been squatting on by launching their own legal challenge. St George’s Mental Health Trust put in an application to move the group off their land at 20 Upper Brighton Road, but were told the proceedings would have to wait after a public law challenge submitted by the travellers.