DRAMA and music groups fear that staging shows at a brand-new venue in Weymouth could become too expensive.

Amateur singers and actors welcomed plans to replace the council-owned Pavilion Theatre as part of a radical scheme to develop the peninsula it stands on.

But they want to be consulted every step of the way, especially if the new complex is handed over to private operators.

Chairman of WOW Youth Musical Theatre, Janet Stockley, said: "My heart is fluttering a little - I am very anxious that if it is privately owned they could almost out-price us.

"I am excited at the thought of a brand-new theatre because this is a big step for the town and will encourage bigger names to perform.

"I hope it will not take forever to build, because we may need a temporary venue and do not want to lose our audience."

Geoff King, who is chairman of Weymouth Operatic Society, said: "I was worried this would leave us with no decent sized theatre in the town.

"Now our fear is if the new theatre goes private it could so easily price out local groups.

"It is important to get this right so we do not lose touch with the wonderful amateur dramatics scene we have here.

"I welcome a redevelopment, but I am surprised they still want to have 1,000 seats - for our purposes, 650 seats would be enough because there are times when the Pavilion does not sell out.

"I would like developers to look at it imaginatively because there are problems with using the Pavilion stage - for example, it does not have wing space.

"I think it should have a bomb put under it - it's not a user-friendly building.

"It certainly needs a revamp, it is terribly dated and the dressing facilities are awful."

Meanwhile, transport and tourism bosses said the new development - that may include housing, a new marina, casino and restaurants - could not happen soon enough.

David Norman is general manager for marine services at Condor Ferries, which sails to the Channel Islands and France from Weymouth.

He said: "The site is well overdue for development and is not exactly an asset to the town, so we see this as a positive step.

"Several of the developers have taken the opportunity to discuss with me the requirements of operating a ferry service out of Weymouth."

Chief executive of the World Heritage Coast Hospitality Association, Alan Davis, said: "This is long overdue and will benefit not just Weymouth but the whole of Dorset and will put pressure on the powers that be to improve infrastructure like transport links.

"Weymouth has got to go upmarket to survive for the next 10 years but once somebody starts investing, then other entrepreneurs will follow suit.

"We especially back the idea of a five-star hotel and more accommodation for tourists."

However, the regional spokesman for pressure group Transport 2000 has opposed plans to remove the historic tramlines that criss-cross the site.

David Redgewell said: "We are against removing the rail lines which are an important link to the ferry terminal.

"The ferries are absolutely crucial to the development and if Weymouth loses those links for the sake of a few yuppie flats, it is no good to the economy.

"The ferry terminal connects Weymouth to the rest of the South West so it is essential that the borough council's transport forum is fully consulted."

Housing campaigner Penny McCartney from Crossways has urged developers to think about local couples who are desperate to get on the housing ladder.

She said: "Any developer needs to include 30 per cent affordable housing because we desperately need homes for local people who cannot afford to buy penthouses and luxury flats.

"First-time buyers can't even get a look-in."

The president of Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, David Beaman, said: "Councillors have got to make the right decision here for the long-term interests of the borough, because there is a lot riding on it.

"I will be attending the meeting myself to hear the discussions, and members of the Chamber of Commerce will need to consider all the options very carefully.

"We are pleased that adequate provision is made for a theatre with at least 1,000 seats, and the ferry terminal."