On Tuesday 27th September the Cabinet of Wiltshire Council approved an exciting plan to
secure the long-term future of Trowbridge Town Hall.
The Grade II listed building is owned by Wiltshire Council and over the last 10 years has
been run by the Trowbridge Town Hall Trust, an independent charity. The building is going to
be subject to extensive refurbishment and remodelling as part of the Future High Streets
Fund (FHSF) £16 million investment in Trowbridge, enabling it to provide a greater capacity
to hold events as well as a diverse programme of cultural and social activities.
Cabinet has confirmed that the Trust are to be the end user of the Town Hall, when these
works are complete, and will be granted a 125-year lease, to allow them to ensure
sustainable use of the building, in the long term. The council will continue to work with the
Trust to make sure they are in a position to be able to take over the building, ahead of the
lease being granted.
Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “One of the key aims in our Business
Plan is making sure our towns are resilient, ensuring our communities are able to grow
sustainably with access to leisure, arts, heritage and culture. The refurbishment of
Trowbridge Town Hall is central to developing a unique cultural offer in the town,
encouraging increased footfall into the town centre and helping to revive Trowbridge’s poor
evening economy.
“The Trust has exciting plans for the Trowbridge Town Hall’s future. By treating this
landmark building as a community asset and transferring it on a long lease to a community
organisation such as the Town Hall Trust will ensure that its future as a vibrant hub of activity
in Trowbridge town centre is secure.
“I am delighted Cabinet have put the local community at the heart of its decision to support
the long-term future of Trowbridge Town Hall in this way.”
The Trust’s Director, Alan Wright, commented “Today marks the culmination of a remarkable
collaboration between a small but determined local community organisation, a little over ten-
years-old, a pro-active Town Council, and a supportive unitary authority that understood the
contribution a re-imagined Town Hall could make, not only stimulating the local economy
but, also, becoming an exemplar for cultural and community activity throughout the region.
We have already been recognised by the National Theatre as one of the most successful
community arts organisations in the country, and we now look forward to making the Town
Hall a venue the people of Trowbridge can be truly proud of.”
In the next two weeks we will announce a date for a public engagement event where local
residents will be able to drop in to the Town Hall to view the current refurbishment proposals.
Representatives from the Council and the Trust will be on hand to answer any questions
people may have.