By Staff reporter

Last updated 11:34, Friday, 09 May 2008

MARYPORT’S Civic Hall is to close next month.

David Martin: Hall is ‘surplus to requirements’

Allerdale Council’s executive committee agreed to closing it on June 30 at a meeting on Wednesday.

David Martin, director of partnerships and community, said a valuation of the hall would be carried out, including the cost of demolition.

“I suspect it will be demolished and perhaps used as a residential development,” he said.

He said the new Maryport visitor centre, The Wave, would be opened to the public in June and many of the groups using the Civic were already in the process of transferring.

In answer to questions from council leader, Joe Milburn, Mr Martin said almost all groups using the Civic had been helped to find other homes, many at The Wave.

Some events such as the Maryport Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s large annual productions will move to Netherhall School but The Wave will accommodate a wide range of performing arts, he said.

“It is expected that much of the regular programming at the Civic Hall will transfer across.”

Mr Martin said the closure of the hall would result in the loss of one full-time job and casual employees would no longer be needed.

Councillors are to organise a visit to the new centre and groups likely to use it will be given a tour before it is officially opened.

Mr Martin said the Civic Hall was now “surplus to requirements” but added that Maryport is “probably better provided for with halls and facilities than anywhere else in Allerdale.”

It is also expected that council planners will give their backing next week to the demolition of Cockermouth’s Market Hall depot to make way for eight new homes.

Officers have recommended councillors approve the scheme for the terraced two-bedroom rental properties from Impact Housing, despite four letters of objection and the town council’s concerns over the lack of parking provision and feeling the site could be put to better community use.

Allerdale’s development panel will meet to discuss the plans on Tuesday.