Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has welcomed the news that Bedworth Civic Hall CIO has been awarded £165,000 in funding.
Money from the ACT ONE Community Ownership and Transformation Project will be used to get Bedworth Civic Hall and Community Hub up and running.
The High Street venue’s bid was highly praised, and the Charitable Incorporated Organisation aims to open the doors in July.
Following the local election, Cllr Chris Watkins, who is set to become Leader of the Council at the Annual Council meeting on Wednesday, 15 May, said:
“The Council is pleased that CIO is making progress with funding, and we are working hard to complete work to enable reopening.
“We are extending the lease handover timelines to allow the CIO time to establish receiving their funding and work to be completed.
“We wish them the best of luck and look forward to seeing the Civic Hall open its doors again and becoming a fantastic venue, not just for Bedworth but for the rest of our borough and further afield.’’
In March, the CIO exchanged contracts on a 20-year agreement for Bedworth Civic Hall with the Council.
The lease will only take effect if the external funding identified by the CIO in their business plan has been secured.
The Council offered a fixed window of around eight weeks for the CIO to secure funding and for the necessary pre-opening works to be completed.
This followed a lengthy consultation period to find a suitable operator and an extended period of negotiations with the CIO, with action taken by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council to ensure a smooth transition, and Council officers are continuing to work with the CIO.
Several shows have already been confirmed, including the hometown Julie Bromage Dance Academy with Love the Memory this July and Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime in December.