A SERIES of 'revolutionary' ideas is on the cards as volunteers try to secure the future of Lydney Town Hall.

A local businessman – who at this stage wants to remain anonymous – has agreed to come on board to give the management committee some breathing space.

It was reported last month that the 126-year-old venue faced closure because of mounting financial problems.

But at a meeting on Monday the voluntary management committee agreed unanimously to keep on running the hall.

Chairman of the management committee, Colin Knight, told the Review: "It was a good and constructive meeting, but we had to face facts.

"We needed to forget sentiment and ask the straight question: is there a need for the hall, yes or no?

"Thankfully there was a unanimous vote to keep on with running the hall but with some new ideas to try and make it more like a business or a company.

"At present the hall is run and staffed by volunteers, who do a great job, but it is a major task keeping up with all the work that is required.

"What we, as the committee in charge of the hall, would like is to see it being used much more.

"To this end we have faced the facts that we have to come up with some revolutionary ideas.

"One aim for this is to attract concert organisers and bands to take the hall and promote events.

"This could be possibly organised so that the bands or organisers get the revenue from the tickets or door take – while the hall takes profit from the catering and the bar."

The current management commuittee was formed in 2012 by Lydney Town Council as trustees of Lydney Town Hall but recent emergency repairs to the fabric of the venue created uncertainty as to its future.

Mr Knight said: "We have been very fortunate to enlist the help of a local businessman, who has helped to give us time to put new plans in place to make sure the future of the hall can be settled."

Home to countless dramatic productions, tea dances, discos and concerts, the hall famously hosted a young band from Liverpool in 1963, The Beatles.

The Victorian hall is one of only two in Gloucestershire that boasts a sprung dance floor.

In recent years it also hosted the Summer's End progressive rock festival, although this event has now moved on to Chepstow's Drill Hall.