STROUD Town Council has officially made an expression of interest in taking over control of the Subscription Rooms.

However, the authority does not have the money to actually take over ownership of the arts venue and will not be making an official bid.

This move was a precautionary delay tactic to give other local community groups time to come forward with formal business plans for keeping the Sub Rooms open.

The town council acted to make 100 per cent sure no decision on the Sub Rooms’ future could be made by Stroud District Council (SDC) in the next six months.

Town Mayor Kevin Cranston said: “We were not sure whether anyone else was going to come forward.

“Fortunately we understand a handful of others have expressed interest. But we didn’t want to take that risk so we filed one ourselves as a precaution.”

The SNJ understands six different groups have expressed an interest to SDC.

Cllr Cranston continued: “We are helping several groups put together their plans and, where possible, cooperate to produce something that financially workable, appeals to all ages and interests and will give the Sub Rooms an exciting and sustainable future.

“But the town council has neither the resources or the expertise to take over the venue on its own. Our role is to enable a viable solution to be found.”

SDC, which owns and runs the venue, is reviewing the Sub Rooms’ future due to cuts to its funding from central government.

It is considering three options: retain the venue as it is within Stroud District Council, disposing of the freehold or offer a leasehold interest in the venue, or closure and selling the venue on the open market.

Groups have until April 12 to file an expression of interest of taking over the Sub Rooms. Detailed bids must be submitted to the district council by the end of August.

Stroud Town Council will not be creating its own detailed bid.

A possible decision on the future of the venue is likely to be made in November or December this year.

At the weekend, more than 200 people formed a human ring around the Sub Rooms as a symbol of the campaign to support the venue.

It was led by the newly-formed Support Our Subs group to celebrate all that is great about the arts hub and make sure it remains a publically-owned amenity for the town and wider district.

In October SDC announced that it had to reduce the £400,000 annual costs associated with running the facility in order to meet financial pressures.

A spokesman said: “An expression of interest is just that – to say you might be interested in running the Sub Rooms. We don’t require a detailed plan at this stage, and expressions of interest are not binding.”

The council would prefer that “any solution should not only improve the cost effectiveness for the public but also seek to retain its availability to the public for cultural use".

Anyone with questions about the review can contact Stroud District Council via the email address: subrooms.review@stroud.gov.uk

More information is available on the council’s website www.stroud.gov.uk/subroomsreview