Bulldozers move in on historic Liberty ballroom

Commercial premises to be built on the site

DEMOLITION work started on the Liberty Ballroom last week, marking the end of an era for dancers and sports fans alike.

The building at Greenham Business Park, which included the ballroom and adjoining sports hall, was closed in December by owner the Greenham Common Trust after the operators surrendered their licence.

Protesters raised a 1,328-signature petition against the closure and challenged the trust’s estimate that it would cost £500,000 to upgrade and repair the building.

However, the trust’s chief executive Chris Boulton told the Newbury Weekly News that, in view of the need for significant repairs, the unlikely prospect of any future return and “substantial financial support” the trust had provided in recent years, the decision had been taken to demolish the building and replace it with modern commercial premises.

Mr Boulton said: “This will, of course, lead to the creation of rental revenues which will go towards the trust’s charitable giving in West Berkshire and North Hampshire, which is much needed in the current climate.”

The decision to demolish the ballroom followed a meeting with campaigners, including Adam Padwick, who presented a business plan – for a one-year trial period – to run the ballroom as a not-for-profit community venue, outlining an estimated likely revenue of £3,000 per month.

Mr Padwick said: “All we are asking for is a year, to ‘suck it and see’. We have not been allowed to advertise the fact that the hall can be used.”

However, after also ruling out the possibility of using the ballroom as a concert venue, Mr Boulton said the estimated income represented a significant financial shortfall for the trust and it could not shoulder the risk of the community venture.