New operators sign 20-year agreement for Bedworth Civic Hall

The CIO says they will reopen bringing the old and new into the Civic Hall over the next two years.

The Bedworth Civic Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) has exchanged contracts with the council on a 20-year agreement for Bedworth Civic Hall.

The CIO says that they will reopen bringing the old and new back into the Civic Hall over the next two years.

Tom Shardlow, Strategic Director for Economy and Transformation at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, said: “The Council has worked extremely hard to transfer the Civic Hall to this community group, and I am delighted to see that this milestone has been reached. 

“We have agreed a period of up to eight weeks before the lease formally takes effect, for some agreed works to be completed, and more importantly, for the CIO to secure the external funding that they need to run the Civic Hall.

“I know how much the Civic Hall means to the residents of the borough and I am so pleased that a binding agreement has been reached.

“I wish the CIO as the new operators of the Civic Hall the very best of luck in securing the funding detailed in their business plan, so they can complete on the lease,  and I look forward to seeing them deliver upon their plans."

The lease will only take effect if the external funding identified by the CIO in their Business Plan is secured.  

The Council has offered a fixed window of around eight weeks, for the CIO to secure funding, and for necessary pre-opening works to be completed. 

Charity Chair of Bedworth Civic Hall CIO, Sam Margrave said: "There remain questions to be asked about the cost of the rent compared to other community venues or the lack of funding for Bedworth when Nuneaton has the museum, we think we got the best deal possible which would allow us to get into the building and get the doors back open.

"We've all worked incredibly hard to get to this point. We thank the community volunteers who made this happen through hard work and perseverance. This shows the power of community powered volunteering." 

The CIO says that when the Civic Hall is back up and running it will make a difference to residents from SEND pupils, to families, to older people and the whole community.