New name and new direction for Assembly Hall?

THE future use of the Assembly Hall is back on the agenda at Melksham Town Council, with a proposal for a new name and a focus on hosting more community events. 

A report, that is set to be discussed by the town council next week, has proposed that the Assembly Hall be rebranded, with a new name and a ‘more fitting strapline’: ‘The Assembly – the Place where Melksham meets’. 

It has been suggested that the venue play host to more ‘community focussed’ events with a range of activities that more broadly reflects the demographic of the town. Suggestions include a parent toddler group, record fairs, toy/collectors’ fairs, a film club, local band nights, bingo, real ale nights, quiz nights, and a bric-a-brac market. 

Performances by touring bands, entertainers, and tribute acts – which are already a regular feature at the venue – will continue, “possibly once a month”.

“Once you start thinking, the possibilities are endless and we have a real opportunity to get a more community-based programme up and running,” says the report to town councillors. 

The future of the Assembly Hall hit the headlines last year when the town council proposed a number of options for the venue, including ‘mothballing’ it – an option they took off the table at a meeting in August. 

The proposal for the Assembly Hall rebrand and relaunch was set to be discussed at last week’s full council meeting, but discussions were postponed due to lack of time. The next full council meeting is scheduled for Monday 4th April.

The town council is also proposing to revise the pricing structure for hire of the venue, increasing the hourly rate – for example, hiring the whole building from Monday to Thursday will rise from £42 per hour to £60 per hour – not including VAT. 

The increase has been proposed to allow for the Assembly Hall to operate within the 2022/23 budget set last year by the town council and to ‘minimise costs wherever possible’.  

During the 2022/23 budget discussions last year, it was said that the Assembly Hall budget needed to be increased from £82,362 to almost £150,000 – a request that was dismissed by the majority of councillors.