THE closure of Cleckheaton Town Hall has been a “huge blow” to thousands, Kirklees Council heard at a meeting, as businesses and communities are still “hurt” by the impacts.

Last September, the Council's Cabinet agreed to mothball the Grade II Listed building, as part of a review of its estate.

This came in a bid to make a combined £455,000 saving to contribute to the £47m that needed to be found to balance the books at the time.

Council documents revealed the town hall is in need of more than £5m worth of maintenance works, with annual running costs of £175,000.

However, concerns that the much-loved venue has been “neglected” by the council have been raised time and time again by the community, with safety issues identified above the main stage in July 2022 and yet to be repaired years later.

The council said a survey needed to be carried out to assess the extent of the damage.

A flashback to the campaign to save the Town Hall over a year agoA flashback to the campaign to save the Town Hall over a year ago (Image: Roger V Moody)

The matter of the town hall was brought to a recent Full Council meeting by Chris Moore – the Chairman of Cleckheaton and Spenborough Town Hall Group and Deputy Chairman of the Cleckheaton and Spenborough University of the Third Age (U3A) – who urged the local authority to re-open the town hall.

He said: “The closure of any town hall has a disproportionate effect on both the community as well as the town centre that it serves. Its closure almost a year ago today has been a huge blow and a loss felt by thousands of individuals who made regular use of the town hall, as well as the many organisations who base their activities there.

“In fact, it was the best and most-used of all town halls by community groups in Kirklees, serving the people of Cleckheaton, Gomersal, Birkenshaw, East Bierley, Liversedge, Heckmondwike, Birstall, Scholes, Drighlington, Hunsworth, and Mirfield.

“Another serious impact has been on local businesses. The Cleckheaton Chamber of Commerce noted a significant drop in footfall in the centre shortly after the town hall closed and it has never recovered, so I’m sure you can appreciate the significant negative effect it has had on so many, many people’s everyday lives – both individuals and businesses.”

He spoke of the past uses of the town hall including by amateur dramatic societies, dance schools, the British Legion and the U3A, and its cultural significance, not least due to its role in hosting the nationally-acclaimed folk festival.

He listed a number of potential future uses to generate income at the town hall included as an events space, art gallery, banking hub or local history museum and urged the council to work with the community.

He added: “There is a swell of feeling of concern in the community and businesses about the future of the town hall.”

In response, Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, Cllr Graham Turner, said: “As you’re well aware, there were several issues with the building’s structure and in light of this, we commissioned a full and very detailed report into the condition of the building. This is now complete and as I’ve said is very detailed and full report runs to about 500 pages with all its appendices.

“The relevant Service Director and I have a meeting with ward councillors on October 1 to discuss the contents of the report and the options contained within it, so I’m sure you’ll understand it would be remiss of me to discuss the report this evening prior to that meeting – we have to brief the council ward members first.

“Once that meeting has taken place, we will be happy at the relevant point to share the report and its contents. As before, the report and decisions for the town hall will follow due process of the council.”

Since the meeting, Leader of the Lib Dem group and Cleckheaton ward councillor, Cllr John Lawson, commented: “The mothballing of our Town Hall continues to hurt businesses in Cleckheaton as well as the community groups it hosted.

“The U3A has halved in size. The Cleckheaton Amateurs struggle for a venue as good as the stage in the hall that drew groups from the whole of West Yorkshire. The Folk Festival has stopped and that was something that really put us on the map, generated income and made us proud of where we live.

“The estimates for the repair work are in direct proportion to the lack of investment in one of Spen's few remaining assets. We have missed out on at least two rounds of serious investment that other Town Halls have benefitted from over the last few years.

“The building has been steadily emptied of services and functions. It’s a textbook case of a self fulfilling prophecy.”