Borough Council supports Arts Centre plan for Victoria Hall

High Peak Borough Council helped to fund a feasibility study by consultants to test the viability of proposals to convert Glossop's Victoria Hall into a Performance and Arts venue. The consultant's report backed the potential proposals and the Borough Council has committed to work with the Victoria Arts Centre (VAC) group on the project to find a suitable future use for this historic building following the County Council's decision to relocate the town's library.

Members of the Council's Executive met with the VAC group to consider the results of the study and agree the next steps which include:

·         Investing £43,000 in carrying out urgent repairs to the building

·         Providing £12,500 towards immediate internal decoration work

·         Defining the key project development milestones for review in September 2019

·         Part funding an arts development post for three years

·         Working with the VAC group, and other stakeholders, to encourage use of the building in the interim

Council Leader, Councillor Tony Ashton, said: "The feasibility study shows that the proposal to convert Victoria Hall into a performance and arts venue is potentially viable - which is good news for finding an appropriate future use of another of Glossop's historic buildings.

"We'll now invest in the urgent repairs needed to the building whilst continuing to work with the VAC group and the community to develop the project in detail and seek to find uses for the building in the meantime.

"This building, alongside Glossop's other heritage halls, has a key role to play in delivering our vision for the regeneration of the town focused on the creative and cultural industries. The scheme to replace the Town Hall roof is now underway and the investment we're making in all these buildings will safeguard them for the future and help us to realise our vision."

The VAC group, led by Mike Bull, is team of people including heritage architects, architectural historians and practitioners, business operators and performing artists. Their proposal for Victoria Hall came forward following discussions with community groups in 2016.

Mr Bull added: "This is another step forward for this exciting project which aims to contribute significantly to making Glossop an even better place to live and work.