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Councillor Blackston (with Ruari McNeil of MPAA) who feels the palace must be saved.

A final dramatic attempt to save the Palace Theatre from demolition is being made by Councillor Sidney Blackston, chairman of the town's Libraries and Arts Committee, and member of The Mid-Pennine Arts Association executive committee. Councillor Blackston has been trying to save the Palace for some time, and he is at present trying to get the MPAA and similar organisations to flood the town with protests about the proposed demolition and building of a car park. He told the Burnley Express: "We have a great need in Burnley for a civic theatre. The Borough Surveyor has said that it will cost too much to renovate the Palace, but I don't think the cost of renovation would be much higher than that of pulling it down."

Mr. Ruari McNeill, assistant administrator at the MPAA said: "I think the Palace is still workable as a theatre, and it is a pity to destroy it in view of the fact that it could still be used. It would take a lot of money to do the renovations but the result would be a good theatre." On Friday, 14th May 1971, students from Burnley Municipal College were sketching inside the Palace as part of a project on the history of the theatre in Burnley, which they are doing in conjunction with the MPAA. Also taking part are students from Accrington and Nelson and Colne Colleges. They will be sketching and photographing and generally building up an illustrated history of the theatre in this area. In September, all three colleges will be seeking out local people who recollect performances in old theatres in the area, and putting their recollections on tape. The results of the project will be put on show in the form of an exhibition in the foyer of Burnley Municipal College at Christmas during TheatreMobile's pantomime.