Council go ahead for community takeover of Weymouth Pavilion

9:21pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in News By Martin Lea

JOY: Supporters are delighted with the result JOY: Supporters are delighted with the result

THE show will go on at Weymouth Pavilion after councillors unanimously agreed to hand it over to the community to run.

The decision came following passionate speeches and a long debate at the full meeting of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council last night.

The move saves the theatre from demolition and means a tender process can get underway in order for the venue to be leased.

It opens the door for Weymouth businessman Phil Say to take the venue off the council's hands.

He has been waiting in the wings to operate it as a not-for-profit community interest company supported by volunteers.

Exactly when the community can take it over was a source of debate at the meeting.

The Pavilion will close at the end of May and Mr Say wants to take it over and reopen it as soon as possible after that, but the tendering process could delay its reopening.

Concern was expressed at the meeting that the Pavilion could be closed for a lengthy period during the summer months before the handover is complete.

Attempts by Coun Ian Roebuck for the tender process to be speeded up were lost, as was a move by Coun Ray Banham to keep the Pavilion open until September.

Councillors were assured that work was underway now on the tender process.

More than 100 people turned up to hear the debate, which was switched from the usual meeting venue of the Guildhall to the Pavilion Ocean Room so everyone could be accommodated.

Mr Say told councillors: "The Pavilion is very important to everyone in Weymouth.

“It’s held very dear by visitors and residents.

"A large section of the community support the plan to run the Pavilion as a community company for the community.

"With your support we can create a vibrant centre for the arts.

“Please give the community a chance."

Cathy Page-Nash, from the Friends of the Pavilion, which supports Mr Say's proposal, said she had a list of 5,000 names of people who wanted to help the Pavilion in some way, either through volunteering, becoming patrons or sponsoring seats.

Hon Alderman Peter Rendall urged the council to ‘get the wheels in motion’ now so the deal can be finalised and there is a ‘smooth transition’ so the Pavilion is open for the summer season.

"The show has to go on," he added.

What do you think? Leave your comments below.

Comments(14)

annotator1 says...
9:42pm Thu 21 Feb 13

They have no choice!

Report this post »

sparkleeye says...
10:12pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Just like the tax payer won't get a choice.

Report this post »

SaveThePavilion says...
10:30pm Thu 21 Feb 13

sparkleeye Tax Payers are not paying for this.

That was the whole point.

Report this post »

sparkleeye says...
10:34pm Thu 21 Feb 13

SaveThePavilion wrote:
sparkleeye Tax Payers are not paying for this.

That was the whole point.
The tax payer always ends up footing the bill for Arts one way or another, we will see in time.

Report this post »

high68 says...
10:59pm Thu 21 Feb 13

surely it doesn't technically mean that this group will take over. The resolution reads that there will be tendering process, which i'm guessing will open the tender up to anyone who wants to put in a bid ??

Report this post »

annotator1 says...
11:44pm Thu 21 Feb 13

I think Pete Smith, he who knows about entertainment, should be contacted and hired as the manager/guvenor.

Report this post »

stench says...
10:21am Fri 22 Feb 13

great news :)

Be good to see something similar happen to a few of the shops on the High Street. Give them to Schools & Wey College. teach kids how to set up and run a business, whilst potentially earning extra cash to top up those half empty budgets they have...

Report this post »

shaun blondz says...
10:25am Fri 22 Feb 13

And how do people see a list of who voted for what ? as this smells of true disaster for this summer as the council have shown a complete inability to run tender systems every other year why will this be different ?

Report this post »

JackJohnson says...
3:46pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Hopefully it'll be a full repairing and insuring lease, otherwise the council, and taxpayer, have gained little or nothing.

Report this post »

weymouthfox says...
3:55pm Fri 22 Feb 13

The Pavilion has been badly managed for a decade now by council officers. There has been an element of planning to fail so that the scheme to redevelop the peninsula could look better. But at the end of the day, a good decision by coiuncillors to give the Pavilion to the community trust. Now we have to make sure there are not long delays in making the lease, or the complex will be closed all summer.

Report this post »

bedpans says...
7:47pm Fri 22 Feb 13

There is no doubt the the Council must put this out to open tender to seek the best returns for the tax payers of Weymouth.This is a great opportunity for a professional company to take over a vital asset for Weymouth and to make it into something the town can be proud if. I am not sure if a bunch of locals however good their intentions should be let loose on this. But knowing our property services department anything could happen

Report this post »

Is it me or is everything rubbish? says...
7:58pm Fri 22 Feb 13

If a local organisation takes over, it is doomed.

It needs a proper entertainment company to run it.

Report this post »

Get a grip says...
7:34pm Tue 26 Feb 13

shaun blondz wrote:
And how do people see a list of who voted for what ? as this smells of true disaster for this summer as the council have shown a complete inability to run tender systems every other year why will this be different ?
You are so right.

Remember the mess they made of the kiosks?

Report this post »

Get a grip says...
7:36pm Tue 26 Feb 13

shaun blondz wrote:
And how do people see a list of who voted for what ? as this smells of true disaster for this summer as the council have shown a complete inability to run tender systems every other year why will this be different ?
You are so right.

Remember the mess they made of the kiosks?

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree