June closure for Civic Hall

Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 08 May 2008

MARYPORT’S Civic Hall will definitely close on June 30, and the site could be used for residential development.

Allerdale council’s executive committee agreed to the closure date at a meeting on Wednesday.

David Martin, director of partnerships and community, said a valuation of the hall would be carried out, including cost of demolition.

“I suspect it will be demolished and perhaps used as a residential development,” he said.

He said the new Maryport visitor centre, The Wave, would be opened to the public in June and many of the groups using the Lower Church Street hall were already in the process of transferring.

In answer to questions from council leader Joe Milburn, Mr Martin said that most groups using the hall had been helped to find other homes and many would use The Wave.

Some events such as the Maryport Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s large annual productions will move to Netherhall School but The Wave would accommodate a wide range of performance arts.

“It is expected that much of the regular programming at the Civic Hall will transfer across,” he said.

Councillors will organise a visit to the Wave Centre and groups likely to use it will be given a tour before it is officially opened.

Mr Martin said the Civic Hall was now surplus to requirements. He added that Maryport was probably better provided for with halls and facilities than anywhere else in Allerdale.