East Lothian Council has unanimously voted to close Brunton Theater due to concerns about hazardous concrete and will consult on the demolition of the building.

Councilors said it was a “heartbreaking decision” but they had to make it following the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the roof panels.

They heard from experts that the entire roof area was compromised and repairing the building was untenable.

The council will now consult with the community about demolishing the complex, but campaigners want a new complex to be built on the same site.

Part of the theater and its attached halls, which also house council housing and social services, were “zoned” 18 months ago due to fears over the RAAC presence on the roof.

Containing panels Design life of RAAC is approximately 30 yearsbut those used in the Brunton Theatre, which opened in 1971, are now over 50 years old.

Performances at the theater were temporarily moved to another part of the site until it was determined whether the building would survive.

But a report to councilors said the cost of repairing the concrete in the roof panels would be “unaffordable”.

The demolition of the complex is estimated to cost around £3.6 million.

Brunton Theater Trust, which has run the venue since 1994, said it wanted a new arts complex to be built on the same site to keep it “at the heart of the Musselburgh community”.

The replacement petition has garnered more than 1,500 signatures online.

Councilors have vowed to write to the UK and Scottish governments in support of rebuilding the facility.

Michael Stitt, the foundation’s president, said they were facing a “perfect storm of pressure” due to funding issues and the building closure.

Alternative performance venues, including Loretto School and the theater at Haddington Corn Exchange, are currently used by Brunton Theater Trust to deliver its program of events.

The Church of Hope across the road is also used by the trust and Mr Stitt said the church would “never give up” on its efforts to maintain a presence in the town.

He said: “Brunton was and is a hugely successful theatre, and although it would be extremely bad luck to conspire against it, we cannot give it up.

“I would love to have a new theater in the same location. It’s a unique and special place, right in the heart of Musselburgh. It has easy transport links and that’s where our audiences are.

“Regional theaters like this are the lifeblood of the arts community and their survival is absolutely vital.”

Mr Stitt added: “We are in a perfect storm of problems here but we continue to press on and look to our future.”

Security inspection was carried out in the building After concerns about RAAC were made public.

Failed panels meant that parts of the building were closed.

Engineers later determined that the condition of the building meant that it was “likely” to experience structural failure within two years.

East Lothian Council has warned that moving services currently based at Brunton Hall could take up to six months.

Some will be housed at John Muir House in Haddington, while the Musselburgh Community Housing Team and face-to-face customer services will move to the former Citizens Advice Bureau on the town’s High Street.

Tom Reid, East Lothian Council’s head of infrastructure, described the theater as a “landmark” building and said every available option was being considered to preserve it.

He said: “We’ve taken every opportunity that could be taken. It would cost around £22 million just to do the roof and it doesn’t do anything to the fabric of the building, we’re not making it sustainable and then if you were to just make a fundamental change, say £50 million to £60 million.” You are looking at a value between £.

“It is untenable but important, it has to close for safety but we have to engage with the community because a building is a residence where communities come together for arts and services.

“The important thing is what it hosts. “The Foundation has been incredibly successful in sustaining the presentation of arts in different venues, and we need to work together to make sure there is something behind that.”