It is hugely disappointing to hear that Bradford's historic Priestley Theatre is in trouble once again and has had to call in the administrators. It is little more than six years since Telegraph & Argus readers stepped in to help rescue the theatre, by backing our Save the Priestley Campaign.

Then, the timing of the crisis could not have been worse, with Bradford chasing European Capital of Culture status. That aside, the arguments calling for the venue to be kept open are as valid now as they were then.

If it closes, then we will have lost a piece of our heritage, and with it an institution that fosters the educational and artistic development of many youngsters. Gone, too, would be a breeding ground for talent that has helped produce such famous names as Billie Whitelaw, Bernard Hepton and Gorden Kaye.

The timing now is not without its sensitivities, either. The city is on the brink of huge regeneration but, alongside the physical redevelopment, the centre needs a cultural regeneration and we cannot afford to lose any of the limited leisure facilities we currently have.

It is vital, therefore, that the powers that be - regeneration bodies, the Council and even private investors with a stake in Bradford's future - think carefully about what they can do to help while a rescue plan is devised. Readers, too, can do their bit by turning out to support productions.

But the theatre needs more than a short-term fix: it cannot keep lurching from one crisis to the next. With the greatest respect to the hard-working and enthusiastic volunteers who currently run it, a permanent solution - utilising professional help and resources, particularly in areas such as marketing - desperately needs to be found to protect a valuable part of Bradford's cultural scene.