When I started this group a year ago and working with others, I knew we could get the Council to where we are. I just wish it had been sooner as we've missed out on so many funding opportunities and time. 

Yesterday was a day of celebration as the community were told the Council will let them run the Civic Hall, but I also believe the devil is on the detail and any negotiation starts now. I am positive about the community working with the council and hope they will change their approach from being hostile to a partner in this new chapter, working with not against us. 

But we need to do this as a community in our time on our terms and not raise expectations. 

Don't forget the Council itself has delayed this process a number of times. So we need to look again at our business plan and get the best deal for Bedworth from the Council in any negotiation.

So I want to make a persona plea that you bare with any community group. For example, the community ownership fund closed on the 11th October. If the Council has acted sooner then that money like other groups according to the theatre trust would come to Bedworth. 

We now need the MP Craig Tracey MP to look at what can be done. So please reach out to him, because an extension on the community ownership or other government funding would make a huge difference.

I am passionate about a community group running the civic hall and reopening, and have argued this for years now. I've worked incredibly hard. 

But I want to be a voice of reason. As a community, please be patient and continue to support those seeking to reopen the Civic Hall. I wouldn't have announced this news in the way it was announced. We only found out at the same time as the press release. So we need to make sure we approach this commercially, with good governance and deliver on our promises. There will be huge challenges ahead. So please keep supporting us and come forward to give your time, skills and support. 

Finally and probably most importantly, 
while this was absolutely a team effort. I want to thank every single person in this group, and everyone who signed the petition, got the civic registered as an asset community value, and came to meetings and helped. Where we are was not possible without every member of the community who gave their support, time and encouragement. So I just wanted to say, thank you to you. This is your win and I am proud of you all. I look forward to us continuing to pull together to make the Civic Hall a real success.

For future updates about the Civic Hall please join Bedworth Civic Hall CIC (Formerly Civic Action) and while this group will continue to exist for the time being, to challenge the council, I want to see all the time I have to into getting a good deal for Bedworth in any negotiation and delivering on our plans for the Civic Hall. 

Thank you to every single one of you for your efforts. The hard work has just begun. 

Sam Margrave