Rasen hall will stay closed amid Covid concerns

Councillors approved the move at July’s full council meeting after a report from the town’s community manager highlighted reopening too soon could lead to financial 
problems.

Community manager Faye Lambkin-Smith recommended the decision should be reconsidered in September.

Speaking at the council meeting, Mayor John Matthews said a decision to reopen in September would be based on the R-rate not increasing.

He said Ms Lambkin-Smith’s report had taken into account money for staffing at the hall and cleaning costs.

Coun Matthews said: “The majority of hirers are not in any rush to do so [return] and listen to government guidelines.

“One or two are being pushy.”

He added: “A deep clean of the property is £172, plus VAT.

“I don’t see how we can take that cost for a £12 hire.

“This is taxpayers’ money and we’ve got to be careful.”

The decision will be reviewed at the council’s next virtual meeting, which will take place on Wednesday, September 2.

And when the hall does reopen users will have use of a new wi-fi system which has been installed during the 
lockdown.

Coun Matthews told the meeting: “Early on in the Covid emergency, arrangements were made to install a wi-fi system, the district council system, in Festival Hall.

“That’s now taken place.

“It’s taken some weeks but that’s all there now and up and running.

“So anyone who hires the hall will have use of the wi-fi system.

“It is there and working.

“Certainly when it was tested it worked well.”

During the lockdown Festival Hall was used as a cutting room for a team of 60 volunteers who made scrubs for the NHS.