DURHAM County Council has pledged tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ cash to prop up Barnard Castle’s arts centre.
After a successful public appeal raised more than £40,000 to stave off closure in the short term, the council has agreed to pour in £60,000 as trustees continue efforts to attract £150,000 by the end of the year.
The council will be contributing £35,000 with the remaining £25,000 coming from the neighbourhood budgets of Teesdale’s elected members Cllr Richard Bell, Cllr Ted Henderson, Cllr George Richardson, Cllr James Rowlandson, Cllr Stephen Hugill and Cllr Heather Smith.
The members’ contributions will be distributed via Teesdale Action Partnership.
The council says it will also be working closely with The Witham’s board of trustees, staff and volunteers to ensure the centre is sustainable in the long-term.
Cllr Carl Marshall, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “The Witham is not only an important community facility, it is also an historic building with a rich heritage, so we are particularly pleased to be able to support them.
“The funding we are providing will support the centre over the next six months but, more crucially, we will be offering advice and guidance that we hope will help secure The Witham’s future for the longer-term.”
Bob Garton, chairman of The Witham Trustees, said: “The trustees are delighted that Durham County Council has agreed to support the Witham.
“The decision came at a very critical point indeed for us and, together with the overwhelming support from the local community, means that The Witham is now in a strong enough position to move forward.
“Our particular thanks go to councillors who have jointly recognised that The Witham benefits the economy, the livelihoods and the wellbeing of people right across Teesdale.”
In 2013, it was the subject of a £3.2million regeneration project delivered by Durham County Council, the Witham Trustees and Barnard Castle Vision.
Since then, the complex has struggled to make ends meet.
An initial appeal launched to coincide with the completion of renovations to cover the cost of fixtures and fittings.
More than £280,000 poured in, but the centre has continued to struggle.
At The Witham’s 2015 annual meeting, trustees outlined how a £25,000 anonymous donation had saved the centre from closure.
At the following year’s AGM it was reported the centre received a £100,000 bequest.
However, by the end of 2016, The Witham had run up a deficit of more than £86,000.
The Witham continued to lose cash during 2017, with a £65,000 deficit reported at the most recent AGM.
Matters came to a head in August this year when trustees revealed The Witham was losing up to £10,000 a month.
This prompted the £30k in 30 days public appeal, which saw more than £42,000 raised in just a month.
