Shock decision over future of Bedworth's Civic Hall

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It has served the borough for more than half a century



Council bosses have made the bombshell decision that the Civic Hall in Bedworth will never re-open. In fact it could be bulldozed as part of new regeneration plans for the town centre.

This afternoon (October 3) Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has confirmed that the venue, which has served the borough for more than half a century, will remain closed. It has not played home to a show for more than three years.

It has been used as a Covid test centre before it became the borough's biggest vaccination hub. It has remained as a vaccination hub ever since.

But now, as the vaccination programme ends at the venue, a final decision has been made about its future. And that means it will not re-open again as an entertainment venue.

Back in the summer, a last gasp bid was made to try to secure its future and the council made an an expression of interest for Arts Council funding to help get the venue re-opened - but it failed. Now, facing having to find at least £1m to get the venue re-open, the ruling Conservatives have taken the decision to close it forever.

It is a move that is likely to cause anger in the community and is something that council leader, councillor Kris Wilson is acutely aware of. He admitted that it is one of the toughest decisions he had made so far as leader, but one he says has had to be made.

"I understand that people will have very very strong emotions and thoughts on this and it is not something I want to do if I am honest," he told CoventryLive. "I am in a position where it is just simply unsustainable and unaffordable."

He said he faced a head over heart dilemma, having fond memories of the venue himself. "I have had to get over my heart and listen to my head in coming to this decision," he said.

"The heart says keep it open, keep paying all these sums of money to keep it open. But when you put all of the facts into the equation, the logical conclusion, when the head comes in, it is not financially sustainable - we have other key crucial services that we have to provide.

"We have universal services we have to provide. Can we keep throwing significant amounts of money that very few people use and is poorly designed and is not fit for purpose any more?"

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I remember watching the mid-week wrestling from there on ITV.

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Many of my acquaintances are disgusted by this. My own view is that if it isn't paying its way it should go.

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Bedworth councillor won't stand for re-election after claims he received death threats



An under-fire Bedworth councillor has announced that he will not stand for re-election next year. Councillor Kyle Evans has issued a statement in which he says the past few months have been 'difficult' and he claims he has been at the centre of threats and intimidation in regards to the Civic Hall in Bedworth.

The Slough ward representative said a 'small group of people have decided to put their personal political interests ahead of the town' and it has forced him to take the decision to take a 'new direction' in life. It comes after leaked emails emerged about the Civic Hall at the time when he was cabinet member for public services at the Town Hall.

The future of the Civic Hall has been especially controversial since the Town Hall made the shock announcement that the venue would not re-open after the NHS pulled out of the contract to use it as a vaccination hub early. This has led to the local authority opening it up for outside groups or organisations to take over running, and that too has been dogged by controversy.

In his statement, the councillor said he has tried his hardest to work with those who seek to re-open the venue but the situation has become untenable. So he will not stand in next year's Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council elections.

"Yesterday (May 25) I informed the Conservative Party of my intention not to seek re-election next year. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a councillor since 2018 and I have achieved a lot for our town," the statement read.

"In particular, I was proud to play my part in leading the efforts that secured £15 million for Bedworth in government Levelling Up Funding and allowing market traders in Bedworth to operate outside in All Saints Square.

"However, the last few months have been incredibly difficult. A small minority of people in the town have decided to launch a campaign of rumour, innuendo and intimidation against me which has subsequently led to me receiving daily abuse and death threats. Quite frankly, I have tried my hardest to ignore these threats and carry on, but this is becoming increasingly difficult by the day, and I wish to take a new direction in life. I have tried my hardest to work constructively with those who seek to re-open the Bedworth Civic Hall, however, a small group of people have decided to put their personal political interests ahead of the interests of the town. I cannot say more on this due to potential legal proceedings against one individual in particular.

"For now, I would like to thank the residents of the Slough ward for electing me on two separate occasions. It has genuinely been the honour of my life to represent over 5,000 people at the Town Hall since 2018 and those who have continually supported me since 2018 will remain friends of mine for life."

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Community group to get chance to run Bedworth Civic Hall



A Warwickshire entertainment venue could soon reopen after a community interest company (CIC) was given the chance to take over running it.

Bedworth Civic Hall closed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and was not reopened.

In November, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said investment was desperately needed for the theatre.

Bedworth CIC would now be given the chance to agree a lease to run the venue, the authority said.

A deal could see the group run it for up to 20 years while the council remains as owner.

The prospective partnership followed a detailed bidding process in which organisations were given the chance to come forward with plans, the council said.

"We would like to see the lease concluded quickly so that the civic hall can reopen under the CIC's management," councillor Sue Markham explained.

Steven Young, chair of Bedworth CIC, said the group looked forward to working with the authority "to enable the continued use and success of the venue".

The council previously suggested that operating the hall again could cost it a sum of £845,000.

At the time, leader Kris Wilson called that a "significant financial burden" on the council's budget.

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Community group sign lease to take over venue

Contracts have been exchanged which pave the way for the reopening of a Warwickshire entertainment venue.

The 20-year lease signed for Bedworth Civic Hall brings a community group a step closer to taking the venue on.

Bedworth Civic Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) said it now aimed to reopen the facility "over the next two years".

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said the lease would take effect so long as the community group secured necessary funding within eight weeks.

The hall has been closed since October 2022, after the council said it could no longer afford running costs.

Used as a vaccination centre during the pandemic, it has previously welcomed performers such as Morecambe and Wise and Bill Haley and the Comets.

Charity chair of Bedworth Civic Hall CIO Sam Margrave said volunteers had worked "incredibly hard" to reach this point.

"We thank the community volunteers who made this happen through hard work and perseverance," he added.

"Over the next two years we will reopen and bring back all the old, with lots of new as part of our vision for building a better Bedworth and borough through the Civic Hall."

He added a new programme of events would have wide-ranging appeal for the community as a whole.

The council said it welcomed the milestone, following a lengthy search for an operator and protracted negotiations with the CIO.

Tom Shardlow, strategic director for economy and transformation, said: "I know how much the Civic Hall means to the residents of the borough and I am so pleased that a binding agreement has been reached."

He wished the new operators luck in securing the funding detailed in their business plan.

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Community group reopens entertainment hall



A community group has said it is excited to see how Bedworth Civic Hall grows after signing a 20-year lease to run it.

The entertainment venue closed its door two years ago after Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said it could no longer afford to operate it.

Trustee of Bedworth Civic Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), Rob Batterbee, said the local community had shown great spirit to reopen the venue.

He said: "While that's challenging and frightening in some ways it's also rewarding in that you think 'yes we've done that'.

"I still have to pinch myself to think 'wow we've got a building that we're actually responsible for'."

The venue, which opened in 1973, had been closed since October 2022, with costs of £80,000 cited.

Mr Batterbee said part of the building would be used by local businesses and offer co-working space to develop ideas.

He said: "Hopefully over the next 20 years we can look to expand into both the town of Bedworth and north Coventry where some of the empty shops can be repurposed as the next stage for those businesses.

Nikki Smith from the CIO said the building had been a staple on High Street and its return proved how much it meant to the community.

"Without it, Bedworth really doesn't have much; it brings everyone together," she said.

"We've seen a lot of community cohesion here and we want to move that forward."

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Good luck to them

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Council considering options over civic hall lease



A charitable group has been accused of failing to meet deadlines to sign a lease for Bedworth Civic Hall.

Bedworth Civic Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) had been chosen as the preferred bidder to take over the operation of the building.

But Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said despite a "considerable amount of time and effort" from council officers, two deadlines had passed in August without the lease being signed.

It said it would now "consider its options to ensure Bedworth Civic Hall is operational again".

In a statement, the council said it had spent "significant funds on repair works, with further costs likely to be incurred", including regular maintenance.

Bedworth Civic Hall first opened in 1973, but closed in October 2022 when the council said the cost of maintaining the venue meant it was no longer economically viable.

Following the work carried out by the council, it was able to reopen its doors to audiences on 19 July.

The authority said the offer made to the CIO included contributions towards insurance and the authority paying three months’ worth of utility costs, along with a 12 month rent free period before payments toward the rental fee would start.

But the council said it was looking at its options following the group's "inability to sign the lease agreement to continue operating Bedworth Civic Hall".

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Future of Bedworth's Civic Hall secured as full lease finally signed



The future of Bedworth's Civic Hall has been secured as the full lease has finally been signed. The Bedworth Civic Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) has completed a 20-year lease on the venue.

The group had signed an interim lease earlier in the year but, following legal wrangles, there have been delays to full completion of the final lease. But both the CIO and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council have confirmed the deal has now been done.

The landmark moment is one of joy for the CIO, which says that the much-loved venue, which was first opened half a century ago, is now 'here to stay.'

Sam Margrave, chair of the Trustees of Bedworth Civic Hall said: "The lease agreed between us and the council provides security of tenure for 20 years with a right to renew. This marks the end of a long two year process and community campaign to save Bedworth Civic Hall and secures the venue for future generations, ending any previous demolition or closure plans.

"We look forward to working in Partnership with the council to deliver on promises made to support and ensure the success of this brilliant venue and to benefit the whole borough and beyond."

He added: " The Civic Hall is here to stay, and we look forward to continuing to serve our community. Please keep showing your support by volunteering, hiring the venue, attending events and activities, buying tickets and helping us continue to be a huge success for the community, by the community."

He thanked the army of volunteers who have helped ensure the venue has re-opened as well as the those who have helped with lighting, the bar, front of house, cleaning and estates. "Special thanks must also go to those who have offered advice and support and stood with us and shown their support and believed in us to make this happen since 2022, especially over the last few weeks," he added.

"We are proud to have fought for the community and will continue to work hard to improve our area and outcomes for all the people of Bedworth, Bulkington and Nuneaton.

"Bedworth Civic Hall is more than just a theatre, and we look forward to creating community together. The show goes on."