Since turning the Hall’s lights back on in 2023 we have sold over 1,000 tickets to theatre, cinema, comedy and music events. Thank you so much for sticking with us and for bringing your enthusiasm (and warm jumpers) to our events – we really appreciate it. This is an update on plans for next year and an invitation to meet the Town Hall trustees on the 28th November at the Christmas lights switch-on.
Funds to bring the Town Hall back to life
Last month Wiveliscombe Town Council granted us up to £42,500 to help repair and upgrade the Hall. We are grateful to the Councillors for their support. With the funding we will carry out essential repairs to the ceiling, install a much needed chair-lift to improve accessibility, redecorate the stairway and install a water supply, toilet and kitchen.
Our approach to restoration and upgrades is to do as much as we can to put on more events whenever we can get the funding. That means that some work such as repairing the windows and installing heating has to wait until the funding can be found (if you or anyone you know would be interested in contributing please get in touch – it might help us get it done quicker!)
The repairs to the lath and plaster ceiling will be a slow process and will mean scaffolding the entire Hall. The installation of water and the chair-lift will follow on. This means that we will be closed for the first half of 2026.
When we reopen in the summer we want to be presenting a regular program of theatre, film and music. We’re working on the details so please keep sending us ideas and suggestions.
Securing the Library for the 10 Parishes
The current arrangements for managing the library (whereby the Town Council provides most of the funding, Somerset provides the service and remainder of the funding and Wiveliscombe Area Partnership manages the building) will come to an end in March 2026. With the Area Partnership withdrawing and despite available funding reducing the Town Hall Trust has agreed in principle to take on the management responsibilities from April 2026 for the next seven years.
The first year will be a transitional year in which the Town Council maintains the current level of funding, Somerset continues to run the library service and employ the librarian, and we manage the building and volunteers. From the second year (2027) onwards we will also become responsible for employing the librarian. In January we will be holding a series of meetings around the Ten Parishes on the future of the library and how we can shape its future for the widest number of people. But you can rest assured that the core library service will remain fundamentally the same.
Get Involved
2026 is going to be a busy year for the Trust and we are looking for people to join the Trustees. In particular we are looking for someone who can help look after our finances and anyone with a background relevant to the community library.
Once we are up and running, we will also be looking for people to volunteer for a regular slot in the library to help make it an even more vibrant part of our community. It is likely that the library will also house information services and operate as a box office for local events.
We are looking in the short term for people who may be able to volunteer early next year to help with the building work and redecoration that we are planning.
Let us know if you can help in any way.
Please let your friends know that the best way to find out what is happening is to subscribe to our newsletter.
Come and Say Hello
We will be open for the Christmas lights switch on for people to look around the Town Hall and to ask us questions about our plans. We will be there from 4:30PM.