‘Last chance’ warning as concert venue spared axe

More than 150 people travelled to Beverley, angered by East Riding Council’s plans to bulldoze Hornsea Floral Hall and turn it into a car park.

The venue, which celebrates its centenary next year, and hosts amateur dramatics, discos and many other events, has seen the likes of Bryan Ferry and Slade tread its boards.

Although tired-looking and said to be losing £100,000 a year, it has huge support in the town, with more than 500 people attending a mass protest.

The reprieve, given at a council Cabinet meeting, would see the freehold of the hall offered to the town council at no cost, and it run as a charitable trust, but an agreement needs to be made within six months.

Council leader Steve Parnaby said charitable status would offer relief from business rates and allow the new operators to apply for grants. However he warned: “This is last chance saloon, the whole community, town council and local councillors need to come together to achieve something. It needs to be community led.”

Hornsea councillor John Whittle, who told the meeting knocking the building down would be an “act of vandalism”, said: “(Our reaction) is a collective sigh of relief. I am sure it will work, we have an immense amount of capacity within the town. I can only see good coming out of this and I would like to thank all the organisations and individuals who have supported us. It has been really refreshing and uplifting.”