£500,000 has been earmarked for work at Whitehaven Civic Hall to comply with health and safety regulations.
Cumberland Council was issued with an improvement notice for the Lowther Street venue relating to its asbestos management on April 20.
Between December 2025 and February this year, the HSE visited eight sites owned, managed and/or maintained by the council.
Members of the council’s standards and governance committee met this week and a report to councillors said: “The improvement notice specifically relates to the Whitehaven Civic Hall and the failure to prepare an adequate written plan setting out the measures intended to manage the risk from asbestos and asbestos containing materials which are or are likely to be present on the premises.”
On May 14, Whitehaven Civic Hall closed with immediate effect.
The authority said safety improvements had been identified. When Cumbria Crack asked what they were, Cumberland Council said work would be focused on the fire alarm system, carried out by PWS Systems, of Wigton.
When we asked for clarification, Cumberland Council said while the building was closed due to the fire alarm issues, it was taking the opportunity to also address some of the asbestos-related issues at the venue.
Cumberland Council said they were separate issues.
The council said it was treating the improvement notice with the highest importance and was committed to getting health and safety right to reduce any risks to its employees and the public.
It added: “As such, after the inspections and prior to the improvement notice being issued, the council took immediate action and addressed the issues related to asbestos raised at the civic hall.
“A duty holder delegate in relation to asbestos has been appointed from within the property team, and an external firm has been appointed to inspect and carry out a review of the council’s property portfolio so that the council can have a full and detailed understanding of the situation and make the necessary improvements.”
Committee members were told by offices that £500,000 funding had been made available to support the asbestos work.
Cumberland Council owns the freehold of the building and leases it to Rosehill Youth Theatre trust which operate it, including its principal events space The Solway Hall.
Councillor Jeanette Forster (Hillcrest and Hensingham, Labour) asked if the funding included compensating for the loss of income while the building was closed and a senior consultant in health and safety, told her: “That is not related to the work we are carrying out.”
It is hoped the hall will reopen this summer.
The Health and Safety Executive also visited Maryport’s Netherhall School and Parkside, Workington’s Ashfield Junior School and Helena Thompson Museum, Carlisle Civic Centre, Cockermouth Day Centre and Nelson Tomlinson School in Wigton.
