Stafford's Shire Hall: Review over historic building's future after university pulls out of site

The proposed review of the building's use and a plan to take the county's arts service into the community will be considered at Staffordshire County Council's prosperous Staffordshire Select Commitee meeting next Tuesday.

The proposals coincide with a decision by the University of Wolverhampton to seek another base in Stafford, while the number of visits to the Shire Hall Gallery is falling.

Ian Parry, deputy leader of Staffordshire County Council and cabinet member for Finance and Corporate Matters, said: "Shire Hall is a beautiful building in the heart of the county town and we want to look at the best ways of keeping it occupied and generating an income for taxpayers.

"We've reached a moment where it makes sense to look at how the building is being used, whether we can provide services differently and find ways to keep Shire Hall well-used and relevant."

The proposed changes to the arts service and review of the Grade II listed building are to be discussed, before a report will be considered by the county council's cabinet.

Gill Heath, County Council cabinet member for communities and the environment, is responsible for the proposed changes to the Arts Service.

She said: "We're going to focus on providing our arts activity more widely across the county, targeting more people with 'pop-up' exhibitions and events in new and existing venues within communities.

"It's going to be different from a Stafford-based service and I think it has great potential."

The county council agreed in 2014 to redefine the arts service and vacate the Shire Hall Gallery, subject to Cabinet agreement.