The frustration of 3,254 Prestonians about the lack of a major venue for the city has been voiced in Parliament.
Ribble Valley MP Maya Ellis included our call for the Preston Guild Hall saga to be resolved in her list of asks for the government to help encourage growth in Lancashire.
Mothballed since 2019 due to a legal battle with the previous operator and then the discovery of reinforced aerated concrete (RAAC) in the roof of both venues, it has left the city without its major civic venue for seven years.
Read more: See the petition and sign and share if you haven’t already
The Labour MP, who has a swathe of the northern part of the city in her constituency, spoke during the debate called ‘Private Sector Investment: Lancashire’ during Wednesday evening.
Watch the petition being raised in the Parliamentary debate or view on YouTube
She said: “When it comes to growth, we know from our city region neighbours that it was the investment in culture and night-time economy that attracted the young talent needed for innovation to really thrive.
“The Guild Hall in Preston was a key entertainment venue for the whole of Lancashire but closed in 2019 due to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete and will take over £60 million to rebuild.
“I hope that the Ministers in the Departments for Business and Trade and for Culture, Media and Sport speak regularly about the impact cultural investment like that can have on attracting talent and growth, and I hope that they will support Blog Preston’s campaign to reopen the venue.”
A response issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport following the petition and letters from MPs and business groups, urging them to act, pointed the finger at Arts Council England as holding the key.
This week Arts Council England, in an update issued by Preston City Council, made their first public statement regarding the venue’s future and indicated support for long-awaited proposals being worked up by the council.
In March it was announced a feasibility report is being put together to consider whether repair or rebuild of the venue is the best option with a decision due to be taken within the next 12 months – depending on what funding sources may be available to support either option with a hefty price tag due to be attached to either.
Since our petition launched in March its seen support across the political spectrum, from MPs, councillors, business groups, arts groups, social groups in the city and individual businesses too particularly in the city’s leisure and hospitality sectors.
