St Helens Borough Council’s Labour Cabinet have today agreed a huge investment in the historic Gamble and Earlestown Town Hall.
As part of the new medium-term financial plan capital strategy, Labour are committing more than £4 million to restoring these much-loved buildings, with the aim of bring both back into full public use.
Council Leader David Baines says: “The Gamble and Earlestown Town Hall are historic and important buildings in our borough and Labour are determined to restore and fully reopen them both. In the last year there has been a huge amount of work going on, with public consultation events, discussions with partners and community stakeholders, and assessments of the repairs needed, which are significant. Labour want to make sure that both buildings are safeguarded for the future and open to as many people as possible.
Work has already taken place on the town hall to demolish the modern and out-of-character additions to the original building, and external repair work will begin on the Gamble very soon.
Our three-year capital budget strategy includes many significant projects, and the commitment of more than £4 million in capital funding for the Gamble and Earlestown Town Hall is definitely one of the most important and exciting decisions in the strategy. Labour is serious about restoring these heritage assets and about working with the community to make it happen.”
Deputy Leader of the Council and Newton ward Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron says: “During my 9 years on council, we’ve always promised to everything we can to bring Earlestown town hall back into use following the Lib Dems and Tories closing it in 2008 when they ran the Council. And I’m now proud we are at a stage where funding is being allocated and I’ll speak in favour or and support that financial plan. The capital budget is always set at this time of year to allow the Council to plan ahead on capital projects.
As a Labour Councillors, the proud heritage of my home town means a lot to me and this is a massive step in the right direction to protect it.”
Labour’s Dave Banks, Councillor for Earlestown, says: “This is a fantastic step forward and something I and our local Labour team have campaigned for over a number of years. It’ll be great to bring the building back into use at the heart of Earlestown.
It allows a proper business case to now be worked up as part of the wider regeneration plans for Earlestown town centre that we’ve secured through the Councils agreement with the ECF. I look forward to seeing progress in the coming months!”
Read the budget plans and papers from today’s cabinet meeting here: http://moderngov.sthelens.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=193&MId=7482&Ver=4 and find out more about the budget here: https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/news/2021/february/24/cabinet-back-financial-plans-ahead-of-council-meeting/