Bilston Town Hall taken over by Wolverhampton Council
Bilston Town Hall will be run by Wolverhampton council again, after 10 years in the hands of an education charity.
Gazebo Theatre will no longer be responsible for the running of the venue from June 17.
Wolverhampton council has instead decided to run the hall under its own management, as part of its Strategic Asset Plan.
Gazebo has spent the last decade hosting holiday activities, family fun days, tea dances, film clubs, public meetings, a community internet cafe, weddings, and more - but this role will now revert to the council.
Chief executive of Gazebo Pamela Cole-Hudson said: “Although we may not agree with the stance being taken by City of Wolverhampton Council, we have to respect their decision.
"Our focus must continue to be on ensuring that the services we provide to the Bilston community continue to operate without major disruption
“We work with some of the most vulnerable members of our community and therefore need to ensure that a suitable alternative location is found.
"With the aid of the council we are currently seeking alternative property.”
A message left on the Bilston Town Hall website reads: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody that has played their part in making Bilston Town Hall the fantastic venue and community hub it has become.
"It’s been a very exciting 10 years and we look forward to seeing what the future holds.”
Gazebo Theatre launched in 1979 and has since been producing performances to audiences across the UK.
A Wolverhampton Council spokesman said: “The council is looking to develop the Town Hall as an even more valued venue for local community events which can offer an even greater range of activities and services, and therefore we are taking the facility back under direct management.
“The Friends of Bilston Town Hall are supportive of our outline plans. Gazebo’s existing lease was always due to end in June 2018 and we are working very closely with Gazebo to support them to find alternative office accommodation.”
The town hall will be taken over by the council on June 17.
Anyone interested in hiring the hall from this date should contact tessa.meek@wolverhampton.gov.uk or 01902 552463 for future bookings.
