Council tried to buy nightclub

WARRINGTON Borough Council made an unsuccessful bid to buy the disused Halo nightclub
Council chiefs made use of a “special urgency” procedure to enable a bid to be made at an auction in London, when the Bridge Foot club building went on sale with a guide price of £500,000.
In fact, the building was bought for more than twice the guide price – an indication of the strength of Warrington town centre’s ability to attract major investment.
It is understood the purchaser is another nightclub operator.
Town Hall officers only became aware the building was up for sale six days before the auction.
A decision to acquire the property should have been regarded as a “key decision” and be included in the council’s Forward Plan.
But the lack of knowledge of the sale made this impossible.
Leader of the council Ian Marks said: “The council’s constitution allows a decision to be taken when there are circumstances of special urgency, notwithstanding the absence of the matter from the Forward Plan.
“The leader, or deputy leader, may determine the matter after informing the leader of the opposition and the chairperson of the relevant overview and scrutiny committee and having taken advice from relevant officers.”
Cllr Marks said two days before the auction, he, his deputy, Cllr Keith Bland, the opposition leader, Cllr Terry O’Neill, the chief executive, the chairman of the economy resources overview and scrutiny committee and the executive member for finance had all approved the proposal to bid at auction.
No indication has been given as to what use the council had in mind for the former cinema building.
But the last time the building was on the market, a number of councillors suggested it would make an ideal location for a theatre.
Pictured: the former cinema when it was Mr Smith’s club.