Newsletter Winter 2022/Spring 2023
During 2022, after over two years out of public use, the Civic Hall reopened. The public can now make bookings for their regular activities or events. The NHS vaccination programmes at the Ramsbottom Centre are now concluded.
Sadly, however, the pandemic resulted in a significant downturn in social activities, which continues to seriously affect the use of the Hall. The Council’s withdrawal of the licensed bar is adding to concerns. Staff changes have also been implemented, further diminishing the status of the venue. Uncertainty, both from a public and community perspective, throws continuing doubt on the Hall’s future.
The uncertainty of future income from hall users, rising prices and the ongoing need to maintain council buildings has had a significant effect on the Council and particularly on its approach to the hall. Separate town centre plans have been developed for the different towns within Bury. In February 2022, FORCH took part in the Ramsbottom Town Centre Plan consultation, pointing out how the Civic Hall is so vital to the town and detailing how it has been well used and been a focal point for events, meetings, entertainment, health and fitness activities and marriages
During the pandemic, there was much public appreciation of the Hall’s importance —if it hadn’t been available where would the vaccination programme, which saved thousands of local lives, have taken place? Now FORCH is being made very aware of widespread concern about the future of the Hall as an im-portant community resource.
The Ramsbottom plan, which was approved by the Council’s Cabinet on 9th March 2022, envisages a shared development in the town centre. In meetings between council representatives and FORCH further details were shared of funding earned for a further study. Some details of this programme are contained in the following correspondence from the planners.

“Bury Council is in the process of looking at an alternative use for the building (in connection with the future of the adjacent Market Chambers building) and the proposal that is contained within the approved Ramsbottom Town Centre Plan is for a new enterprise centre for the town managed by a third-party operator. This would support local business growth, in particularly creative industries and accommodate the level of self-employed freelancers and local new business start-ups. THERE IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BUILDING TO RETAIN SOME COMMUNITY SPACE. (Our capitals)
The Council has successfully secured £50,000 Evergreen funding that will see the appointment of a consultant to carry out a feasibility study to help bring forward the proposal. The opportunity is currently being tendered and it’s expected that a consultant will be in place by the end February 2023. “
SUMMARY
The future of the Civic Hall remains uncertain. The concept of an enterprise centre has possibilities which might result in improved Council and public collaboration. The likelihood is that decisions will soon be required. FORCH’s focus must be on the possibility for the Hall “to retain some community space” large enough for the needs of Ramsbottom residents and users from further afield.