Halifax arts centre company subject to HMRC winding up order
HMRC has issued the order to the owners of Square Chapel Arts Centre
Halifax’s MP says she is speaking to Government ministers about what can be done to ensure an important arts centre – where the company in charge of it is now subject to a winding up order – stays open.
Labour MP Kate Dearden said His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued a winding-up order on the owners of Square Chapel Arts Centre, Square Chapel CIC (Community Interest Company).
The order forces the company to close down and go into voluntary liquidation.
The centre, at Square Road in the town centre, closed suddenly in February last year and has been subject to speculation and major lobbying by the Save Square Chapel Campaign group to get it re-opened and in use again.
Ms Dearden said: “I know residents in Halifax and across Calderdale will be deeply concerned about the news today that HMRC have issued a winding up order on the owners of Square Chapel, and as part of this, the official receiver has taken control of the building.
“I am in urgent communication with the Arts Council and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to understand the immediate implications for Square Chapel and what we can do to ensure it remains an arts centre serving the community in Halifax and Calderdale.”
She said she would work closely with the campaign group to achieve this.
Ms Dearden said: “Square Chapel is a central part of our cultural offer here in Halifax, and for decades it has been at the heart of our community serving our residents.
“I am deeply disappointed at the situation we find ourselves in and it is important that the community gets the answers it deserves over how we got to this point.”
She said she had been working over the past year to bring the building back into the control of the Arts Council so decisions could be made with the community about its future.
“I have received fantastic support from the Arts Council, Calderdale Council and the Save Square Chapel group in my efforts to do this.
“I am determined to save Square Chapel for the community and I will be doing all I can in the coming days and months to achieve this,” she said.
Square Chapel Arts Centre is not a council-owned building, but the local authority has had a keen interest in getting it back open and taken part in discussions with relevant parties.