News and Events
Derbyshire campaigners wait for decision on Matlock Bath Pavilion
17th Feb 2011
The Matlock Bath Pavilion Group has been campaigning to run the venue as a multi-arts space since last year. Derbyshire Dales District Council is now considering whether to give the group a three-year lease of the venue following an officer recommendation. They estimate they will need £2.6 million to transform the site into the new venue. If the campaigners’ fund-raising efforts are successful, they will then be able to buy the freehold of the property from the council for £1 under the plans.
Chairman of the Matlock Bath Pavilion Group, Gregor Macgregor, said: “With this platform, it enables us to then go ahead to the grant-funding bodies.
“We believe we can run this paying our way and there must be lots of other theatres that would be in that position as well.”
He said that the group still needed to raise most of the money required.
The group has now transformed itself into a company called Grand Pavilion Ltd that will run the venue as a commercial venture if the council approves the proposals and the fund-raising campaign is successful.
Geoff Stevens, DDDC’s deputy leader, said: “The Matlock Bath Pavilion Group has been impressive in the way it has gone about furthering its ambitions for this important building which, unfortunately from the district council’s point of view, has been a drain on resources in recent years.
“While this grand old building is surplus to the district council’s needs, we absolutely support the idea of giving the local community the opportunity to give it a new lease of life without risking other public services.”
Matlock Bath Pavilion was built in 1910 and includes a mining museum and tourist information point. However, the majority of the space is unused at present.
Source: The Stage
