Freedom Day delay – the effect on Melksham

LOCAL groups and venues have reacted to the government’s delay on lifting restrictions on June 21st until its next recovery roadmap review on July 19th.

The recent announcement means people are still not allowed to dance or sing en-masse, unless dancing is in an exercise format, so late-night and performance venues have been hit hard.  

Melksham Assembly Hall, the town’s main venue for live music and performances, remains closed, with all staff furloughed. 

A rock ’n roll dance club which has been forced to cancel dance meets at the Assembly Hall for the 15th month running following the government’s announcement, had been booked in to return on 26th June. 

Geoff Mitcham, of Melksham Rock ’n’ Roll said, “We were all geared up to get back in The Assembly Hall on 26th June, but this is the 15th month now we’ve had to cancel – although we did do one in December with 38 people but, although it was good fun, there was no dancing allowed and, what’s the point of a Rock ‘n’ Roll dance if you can’t actually dance?  

“Everyone is desperate to get back in and so am I. Some clubs have been doing afternoon ‘dances’ and others have been doing ‘dance classes” as it’s allowed under the pretext of exercise, so there were ways around it but, with the Assembly Hall being officially closed and the staff furloughed, it was impossible for us to do that. 

“Personally, I am so annoyed with the government, as they just don’t understand the situation. I would say all those who come would have been double vaccinated by now and if they stuck to dancing with their partners, it would have been fine.“ 

The club’s next dance should be 24th July, all going well, with a band called The Unconditionals.  

Geoff said, “I just hope the bar can be stocked and we can operate without restrictions. It’s annoying that you can have stadiums full to watch football with all the hugging that goes on there and you can have demonstrations in London with thousands of people marching side by side and now you can have a larger wedding, but still no dancing. It’s just nonsense.” 

Landlord of the Somerset Arms, John Adams, told Melksham News. “I feel for late night venues and theatres – personally I’ve got theatre tickets that have now been moved, again.  

“Perhaps the government could have taken a more halfway step, like you can go to the theatre, but socially distance and wear masks. It doesn’t really make sense that 2000 people can’t dance at a club, but you can have 60,000 people in a football stadium.” 

Table service in pubs was hard work, John added, but he thought the delay was for the best as “recovery has got to be a gradual thing.” 

Pascal Rivault from The Bell on the Common said they had adapted to the restrictions including table and outside service and tables restricted to six people, so a delay in lifting them was preferable to another lockdown, which would see pubs having to close again. 

“We are open and there’s no point in whinging about it, we just have to get on,” he said. “I was expecting it really because of the way this other variant has gone.”