Whitehaven Civic Hall will close with immediately effect for safety improvements.
Cumberland Council has worked with the hall’s tenants and taken the decision to temporarily close the building with immediate effect to undertake safety improvements.
Recent inspections have concluded that the current arrangements need to be improved.
Whitehaven Library, attached to the civic hall building, is not affected by the closure and will continue to operate as normal.
The council owns the freehold of the Lowther Street building and leases it to Rosehill Youth Theatre trust who operate it, including its principal events space The Solway Hall.
The council said it planned to carry out the work required to make the building safe over the summer.
It is hoped that the building will be able to reopen in the summer.
The council added: “In the longer term, the building’s future will be considered as part of the work to develop a masterplan for Whitehaven.
“The Whitehaven Masterplan will set a bold, strategic direction and aims to create a thriving, sustainable town that celebrates its history while embracing a dynamic future.”
There are several events scheduled for the venue and the authority said it was working with the operators to explore alternative arrangements where possible.
The operators will contact any affected customers in due course.
The council’s ceremonies team are working closely with those couples who have weddings planned during the period of the temporary closure to ensure they have support to find alternative venues.
Cllr Barbara Cannon, the council’s executive member for financial planning and assets, said: “Closing a much-loved community building – even temporarily – is not one we take lightly, however, keeping staff, tenants and members of the public safe is our top priority.
“This temporary closure means that we can keep people safe while work is carried out to get the building reopened and back in use for the community in the short term, while also giving us the time to carefully assess the options for the longer term.”
Anyone with tickets for upcoming events, or other booking enquiries, should contact [email protected]
