Leeds City Council has launched a public consultation on the future of Pudsey Civic Hall, which faces the axe as the local authority seeks to balance its books.
As previously reported by WLD, senior councillors feel Pudsey Civic Hall, at Dawsons Corner, operates at a loss and should be closed as it attempts to balance the books following a combination of inadequate funding from central Government and rising costs. The building and land will potentially be made available for sale.
The Civic Hall was opened in 1972 and has three spaces available for hire for trade shows and exhibitions, dances, weddings, meetings and shows. It also has car parking for 300 cars.
A council consultation document described Pudsey Civic Hall as a ‘financial drain’ and said: “Pudsey Civic Hall is one of the buildings that we are proposing to close because it does not make enough money. The venue also has investment needs to ensure that it remains attractive to event organisers given that the building lacks facilities necessary to operate as a profitable business. The Council is not in a position to meet these needs.
“We are not bringing forwards this proposal lightly and we are seeking your views on the proposal through this consultation.”
Public consultation to is now live and will run for four weeks. You can have your say here.
Councillor Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) said: “It is the view of Councillor Amanda Carter and myself that ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’, and with some positive thinking a solution to keep it open can be found.”
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If, as expected, Labour win next years general election, who will the majority Labour Leeds City Council be blaming for the financial crises within our city or will they actually take responsibility for what is, in reality, their own continual mismanagement.
Labour councils throughout West Yorkshire all seem to be the same they don’t prioritise they wast money on trivial things or give grants to people who shouldn’t be getting them instead of meeting their obligations to provide leisure services to the community.
Also don’t believe the council when they say Pudsey Civic hall doesn’t make money, it does, it’s the carpark that doesn’t so why don’t they just sell off a portion of that.
There are plenty of similar venues available in West Leeds. Given the decade long tory government cuts, it is better to say the cash and spend it where it is most needed.