Could we see a cinema return to Welshpool?

As discussions around the future of the Town Hall reach a critical stage, Welshpool’s Town Clerk said that he has been inspired by the Shropshire town of Wem which has turned their Town Hall into an entertainment and multi-use hub.

The Town Council is preparing a major bid for funding, with millions of pounds required to turn the iconic landmark into a venue fit for the 21^st century.

And at the latest Operations & Development Committee meeting, Town Clerk Richard Williams said that they had spoken to a number of other towns, and Wem Town Hall “has been inspirational to us”.

Following a fire in 1995, the building was re-built and developed into a multi-use venue run by a Community Trust that is also able to screen regular film nights on its big screen (pictured).

Welshpool Town Hall already hosts monthly cinema nights through the Flicks in the Sticks initiative which is proving popular, but Wem screens films throughout the month with a state-of-the-art system, as well as open mic, jazz and other entertainment nights and parties. It hosts a weekly Indoor Market and has a café and meeting rooms also for hire.

The committee responsible for driving the Town Hall Transformation forward has also been talking to town councils in Penzance and Crickhowell, with an open mind as to how its future should look.

Cllr Bill Rowell also stressed that an open channel of communication would continue with the public to ensure all views and ideas are taken into consideration.

A deadline is fast approaching for the Town Council to submit an initial bid for funding, with the National Lottery application consisting of around 35,000 words and requiring around 40 support documents.

What happened at Wem Town Hall and could it work in Welshpool?

1995- 2005
Following the fire that destroyed the original Town Hall in 1995, the building was re-built and re-opened in 2000. After just five years, the building was forced to close save for its weekly use for the Wem Market.
2005 – Present
The closure of the building generated a series of emergency meetings held within the community, leading to the establishment of the local charity Wem Town Hall Community Trust.

Simultaneously, Thomas Adams School had extended its programme beyond school based learning and had earned respect for its outward looking and innovative approach to the delivery of the community and specialist arts programme.

In September 2006, the Trust and the School joined forces, and with support from Advantage West Midlands, the Town, District and County Councils the building finally re-opened in 2009.

In 2014, after five years of working closely with the School to run the building, Wem Town Hall Community Trust took over full responsibility for operations, and continues to work with support from Shropshire Council and Wem Town Council, along with a wide range of partners.

An innovative, high quality, yet community-based programme, sited at the very heart of the community, Wem Town Hall, a centre for Arts, Learning, Community and Enterprise.