The owner of a nightclub in Boston has blamed an increase in violent crime and loss of employment for the closure of his business.
Matt Clark, Director of the Activ Group of Companies, which owns the Grade II listed Assembly Rooms, told Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Jaines that it was hoped the closure would not be a permanent one.
Mr Clark, who bought the historic building for £465,000 from Boston Borough Council in November 2012, said: “The venue was very successful for the first four years of operation, but it is no secret that the town as a whole, and certainly the late night economy, has been in decline, making the last year extremely challenging.
“There is a clearly advertised increase in violent crime and, of recent months, loss of employment, which are bound to have impacted footfall to the town.”
This, he said, made it difficult to keep a venue the size of the Assembly Rooms sustainable.
“We are grateful for the capacity nights that we have enjoyed, with approaching 1,000 people on many nights, and proud that we were able to bring so many quality acts and events to the town,” he said.
He added that the company’s responsibility for businesses in the ground floor shops “remains intact”.
The rear of the Assembly Rooms, which visitors see as they enter the town’s Market Place. Photo: Google
His comments follow a Boston Borough Council meeting on Thursday.
Concerned the closure could see the building ‘deteriorate quite quickly inside as well as outside” Councillor Sue Ransome asked what could be done to “oblige the current owners to improve the appalling state of the exterior decoration of this iconic town centre building”.
Council leader Councillor Michael Cooper said he shared the concerns, but said the council did not at this time consider the building warranted formal enforcement action.
A contract with the council requires external painting to take place every five years – last recorded September 2014.
Mr Clark was disappointed the councillors had raised it in “public forum” adding Activ Group was “always contactable.”
He said the company “regularly maintain the property and have weekly inspections, therefore, there is no reason to believe that, nor have reason why, it would fall into disrepair”.
Mrs Ransome’s concerns echo those of residents when the building was first taken over, resulting in the loss of one of the town’s public toilets.
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The 32-year-old man and 30-year-old woman arrested in the murder probe of an 11-year-old boy in Lincoln have both been released on police bail, without any charges.
The man was arrested on suspicion of murder and the woman on suspicion of manslaughter after an incident at a house on Geneva Street on St Giles in Lincoln.
Police were called to the house at 10pm on Friday night, January 22.
The 11-year-old boy was found unwell at the scene and was taken to hospital for treatment.
He was pronounced dead a short time later.
At the time Lincolnshire Police said the death was unexplained and it was treated as murder.
The man and the woman arrested at the weekend were released on police bail on Monday evening.
Lincolnshire Police said in a statement on Monday night:
“Once again, we’d like to remind people that this is an active investigation and that an 11-year-old boy has sadly lost his life.
“Speculative comments are not only deeply upsetting to those involved but can potentially undermine our investigation.
“If you have any information that can help, call 101 or email [email protected] quoting incident 472 of January 22.”
Ten people from Boston have been given fines for breaching COVID-19 regulations by driving dangerously in supermarket car parks.
Officers were called after three separate reports of dangerous driving in the car parks of Lidl and Tesco in Wyberton Fen, as well as on Marsh Lane Industrial Estate in Boston.
All three incidents took place and were reported to police between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday, January 24, though it is unsure if they were connected at all.
When officers arrived, the drivers were seen doing donut manoeuvres and racing in the snow.
A total of 10 people were given £200 fines for breaking lockdown guidelines, but this will be reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days, due to all being first time offenders.
As well as the COVID-19 fines, two of the vehicles were also seized as a result of being uninsured, with drivers reported.
A traffic offence report was also submitted after one driver was seen to be driving not just dangerously but out of control.
Inspector Fran Harrod of Lincolnshire Police said: “We would like to thank the public for bringing these incidents of dangerous driving to our attention.
“This is not only extremely dangerous to those taking part but to others in these areas.
“While we continue to engage and explain with the public, this was a blatant breach of the restrictions which will not be tolerated.”
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