Andy Munns
Wiltshire Council has reaffirmed its commitment to reopening Salisbury’s City Hall as a revitalised entertainment and cultural venue.
As previously confirmed, the council’s recent repair surveys on the existing City Hall building established that repairs would be over £2m to make the building useable without improving the overall quality of experience for visitors to the venue.
The work required also means that the council’s public liability insurance would not be valid, and therefore it cannot reopen City Hall in its current state.
However, the council continues to investigate different funding options, which could see the existing City Hall building enhanced, creating a modern entertainment venue and bringing wider economic benefits to Salisbury and the surrounding areas while complementing the city’s existing and emerging cultural offer.
Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “I know local people are very vocal and passionate about re-opening City Hall as soon as possible and, while we completely understand that sentiment, it is not a simple process.
“We can’t open a building which isn’t safe to allow live music to be played in. Given the scale of the work involved we are taking a couple of months to undertake an assessment on the best solution for City Hall as an entertainment venue that is sustainable for the long-term and to look at what degree of funding we could commit to significantly enhance the offer.
“We also have significant challenges with the building Salisbury Library is located in which has a flat roof and is going to need significant expenditure to remain fit for use. Part of the assessment will look at whether we can deliver on the Cultural Quarter concept of extending City Hall and bringing the library into the same building.
“I am speaking to officers regularly about this project and it’s incredibly important to me to get it re-opened safely and in a way and condition that’s befitting of Salisbury and complements the wider cultural offer the city provides.
“I would also ask decision makers in the city to work with us on this too, as I’m sure they’d agree that if there’s a chance to develop a much-improved City Hall that brings people into the city and a venue to really be proud of then surely that is the best option.”
A campaign has been launched locally to have the City Hall reopened as soon as possible.
