Chiefs chosen for Aquarius

New bosses have been chosen to re-open Hednesford's treasured Aquarius ballroom, but officials are remaining tight-lipped about who they are.

Interviews were held last week to establish who would be best to take on the lease for the community groups' venue, owned by Cannock Chase District Council, which has been boarded up since July.

Tom Hobbins, spokesman for the district council, said: "A decision has been made, somebody has been picked to take on the lease. But, at the moment, we are not in a position to reveal who that is."

Peter Keenan and Kenyon Walker, who run the town's Greenwood Studios, had been in talks with the council and wanted to re-open it before the end of the year.

Another two expressions of interests were then made, believed to include a consortium from Rugeley.

But Mr Keenan and Mr Walker said they had not yet been informed of any decision made about who would be offered the lease.

Mr Walker said: "We didn't have to have an interview last week because we had one when we initially applied. We haven't been informed of any decision yet and are still waiting to hear."

Hednesford Town Council initially made inquiries about taking on the Aquarius when it heard closure was imminent as no replacement was lined up to take over from the previous managers when they retired.

Town council chairman Councillor Ken Baker said: "If they've chosen somebody to take on the lease that's fantastic news."

The lease available was for between six months and three years as the venue is included in phase two of multi-million pound regeneration plans and will be demolished but a replacement facility has been promised.

Dancers from as far away as Birmingham and Shropshire attended weekly dances at the club, which opened its doors in the early 1950s.

By Michelle Pearson