Bedworth Civic Hall could be saved

The engagement period will work out whether any local bodies want to take on running the Civic Hall.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Councillors are going to vote on whether the Bedworth Civic Hall should have a public engagement period.

This will give people the chance to offer suggestions about the future of the Civic Hall.

At the beginning of October, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council announced the shock decision that they are closing the entertainment venue.

This was after the NHS confirmed it will no longer use the Civic Hall as a covid vaccination centre. 

Since announcing they are going to shut the venue they have faced backlash from residents and a petition to save the hall has been started.

The council are now considering a period of engagement and if it is agreed they want to hear from parties who believe they have:

• A plan for the potential viable operation of the Civic Hall on a sustainable basis to the Borough Council in the immediate future, showing how the immediate capital investment requirements would be met.
• Ideas for continued or alternative use of the building in the current period at no cost to the Borough Council, while plans for the future development of the site are considered.
• Ideas for future use of the site if the Civic Hall was to be replaced.

Nuneaton and Borough Council Leader, Cllr Kris Wilson, said: “We know the Civic Hall is a much-loved building, but we have made it clear we don’t have the money to run it any longer due to the effect this would have on all the other services run by this Borough Council. The decision not to re-open the building under its previous arrangements has been made, and that will not change.

“However, we are interested in speaking to those people who might be willing to work with us to get the best use out of either the Civic Hall in its current guise, the current building for another use, or for this site if the Civic Hall building were to be replaced.

“Whatever the future holds for this building, we are keen to find the best result for the people of Bedworth and surrounding areas.”

The engagement period will work out whether any local bodies want to take on running the Civic Hall.

The Borough Council will announce the outcome of this engagement exercise, and any next steps, early in 2023.