Wiltshire councillor Phil Alford and Melksham Town Council have denied there are plans to demolish Melksham Assembly Hall and build a new facility on the current library site.

The future of the Assembly Hall is under discussion by a working group looking at a masterplan but no decisions have yet been made.

In a joint statement from Wiltshire Council and Melksham Town Council, which owns the hall, the councils said there are currently no plans to demolish the hall or to redevelop the existing Melksham Library site.

Its future is in doubt because consultants CaSA Architects said in 2017 that the hall needs a £2 million refurbishment and redevelopment to upgrade its facilities.

In addition, the Melksham Blue Pool next door is scheduled for demolition as part of the £23 million Melksham Community Campus scheme.

But Cllr Phil Alford, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for strategic assets, and Linda Roberts, clerk to Melksham Town Council, said: “There are no current plans in place to demolish the Assembly Hall or the redevelopment of the Library site. 

“Wiltshire Council and Melksham Town Council are working together to consider the sites that will be surplus to requirements as a result of the campus development.”

Concerns were raised recently by Cllr Terry Chivers who said: “I’m told that some members of Melksham Town Council are keen to close Melksham Assembly Hall and replace it with a new one on the present site of the library.

“I question if this is the best option, yes there is parking alongside, but how much would be taken up by the new building. I wonder if the best option would be to consider a site near Bath Road car park.”

The Assembly Hall is Melksham’s main live music venue and regularly attracts large audiences for tribute band acts, as well as for other functions and events.

Its future formed part of a consultation which took place in 2017. CaSA Architects, acting as consultants for Melksham Town Council, asked residents what facilities and improvements they would like to see at the hall as part of plans to refurbish and redevelop the building.

In December 2017, the consultants’ strategic brief revealed that 47 per cent of respondents would use the hall more regularly if it was refurbished.

CaSA said: “The current condition and facilities are limiting the range of acts that can be accommodated in the Hall, and therefore the revenue potential.

“Key issues were unloading and access to stage, stage size/construction/surface, lack of fly tower, insufficient backstage area, and poor lighting/sound.

“The enjoyment and use by the community is inhibited due to lack of parking, lack of visibility, unsafe pedestrian access, cramped foyer, poor thermal/acoustic conditions, uncomfortable seating, crowded/cramped bar, poor sightlines to the stage, general unattractive appearance, lack of natural light, and insufficient WC provision.

“The condition of the hall and its inefficient mechanical and electrical services increases operational costs. The space heating, hot water heating, and cold water supply are inefficient.

“The construction fabric is poorly performing, which increases use of the air conditioning system and energy consumption.”

Last September, the town council decided not to ‘mothball’ the Assembly Hall and a new ‘Friends of Melksham Assembly Hall’ group quickly attracted 200 members.