Rasen’s Festival Hall to be back in action this week

The hall has been closed to outside hirers throughout lockdown and the potential reopening of the facility was discussed at this month’s full council meeting, which took place via Zoom.

Since the meeting, there have been changes in government guidelines.

Previously, councillors had voted to keep the hall closed due to additional costs linked to deep cleaning the premises.

Speaking at the meeting, town clerk Lucy Waller said: “In the mind of some hirers, September was the date they were looking at to return, although some have said they don’t want to return until the new year.

“Locally and nationally, a lot of halls have started to reopen from September and were we minded to open, obviously we would fulfil all the necessary risk assessments and paperwork so everything would be in place.”

Councillors agreed to reopen the hall from Monday, September 21, unless officers overturn this on health and safety grounds or a change in government guidelines.

The agreed opening will be for the main hall only.

The clerk added: “Because of the size of the committee room, there is no thought for the foreseeable future of that being available for hire; it is just not large enough. The stage will also not be in use.”

Use of the hall will be for meetings, workshops and regular bookings and will not be available for private parties.

The clerk continued: “We will follow the government guidelines and, of course, it is now mandatory that masks be worn. Track and trace will also be essential.

“We will speak to each hirer individually and work with them on their risk assessment and make sure they are safe for their activity.”

Speaking after the introduction of the ‘Rule of Six’, the town clerk said: “The new regulations allow for Covid secure venues – which the Festival Hall will be - to have more than six people, provided they are then separated in to groups of six that do not socialise.

“Our hirers will demonstrate how they can achieve this within their risk assessments.

“We will continue to monitorgovernment advice for any changes.