Much-loved Walsall Arena and Arts Centre could be relocated in new plans for town centre
The future is uncertain for the Walsall Arena and Arts Centre after the portfolio holder for regeneration revealed plans to ‘re-provide’ the facility in the town centre. The remarks were made at Walsall Council’s most recent cabinet meeting.
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The popular venue in Leamore, surrounded mostly by housing estates, offers a packed schedule of music, dance, comedy and film, plus an annual pantomime over the festive period. It is located at the former Forest Comp School building on Hawbush Road.
The facility first opened as the Forest Arts Centre around 2006 and was later renamed the Walsall Arena and Arts Centre. The council said that no formal decisions have yet been made on the project.
In the cabinet meeting, portfolio holder for regeneration and deputy leader, councillor Adrian Andrew, said: “We’ve got to repurpose the town centre; it’s not just about shopping.
“The plan is to provide the arena in the town centre to create that new footfall and that new nighttime economy. If we can bring good people into our town centre in the day and night, that will get rid of all the bad ones. I firmly believe that.
“If we get a town that’s active in the day and active at night, then that’s what will make our town safer.”
The council was unable to answer what this means for the existing venue on Hawbush Road or provide any information regarding timescales.
A spokesperson said: “As part of the Walsall Town Centre Masterplan, the opportunity to bring the facility into a much more accessible part of the borough was identified to increase the town centre offer, increase footfall and support the town’s economy.
“No decisions have been made yet and we will be looking at options for the current site as part of an overall feasibility and business case.”
