Hall Updates ~ at public meetings:
Public meetings have been held in November 2023, January, February, March, April , May and August this year to decide the future of the Civic Hall.
Points made at the initial November meeting
- The hall is the last active venue owned and operated by the Council in the Borough. Its future has been under threat before. Fortunately, Bury Council has continued to manage the venue, working with the Friends group (FORCH) and individuals.
- Bury Council officers reminded the meeting of interested parties of its many financial pressures.
They emphasised that Ramsbottom must now “step up” for our Civic Hall’s future. - It was agreed with the Council officers that a community led approach was possible and that a further public meeting was needed.
- There is the chance of real progress in maintaining the Hall for the community in Ramsbottom.
Update from the 18th January meeting can be read here
Notes taken at the 22nd February meeting can be read here or downloaded as a PDF
Notes taken at the 14th March meeting can be read here or downloaded as a PDF
Notes taken at the 3rd April meeting can be read here or downloaded as a PDF
Notes taken at the 24th April meeting can be read here or downloaded as a PDF
Notes taken at the 21st May meeting can be read here or downloaded as a PDF
Notes taken at the 1st August meeting can be read here or downloaded as a PDF
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Nationwide, many community venues are owned and managed (as is Ramsbottom Civic Hall) by local councils, but it is becoming common for other council-owned centres to be managed by local groups.
They support the delivery of activities for adults and children. Most have catering facilities, making them ideal venues for a variety of events and celebrations.
In 2019 there were about 14 groups of all ages and from a wide area enjoying Ramsbottom Civic Hall’s facilities for the following activities:
A variety of exercise sessions (very successful with large groups, needing lots of space)
- Dancing (the Civic Hall is much appreciated for its sprung dance floor which also suites the needs of exercise groups)
- Sessions with quality activities for under-fives and their mothers or care givers (highly valued by the participants).
- A BEATS group, to which people with a recurring illness or medical condition who would benefit from a personal exercise programme could be referred.
- Large-scale public and charity events (the Hall played an important part in Ramsbottom’s “offer” to local people and the town centre’s visitors)
- Regular weekend events for the public were attracting between 150 and 400 people.
- Private family functions – the venue is licensed for wedding ceremonies.
- Meetings and business events of all sorts
The Ramsbottom Town Centre Plan (2022) includes an Enterprise Centre, using space in the Civic Hall and Market Chambers.
We are expecting that a consultants’ report on their feasibility study (about the plan’s recommendations) will be published soon.
We hope that the report will strongly support the safeguarding of the Civic Hall’s ground floor for community use.