NHS to continue to use City Hall for the next six months

Wiltshire Council has confirmed that the NHS has signed a six-month extension to its lease of City Hall, which will see them continue to use the venue until the end of September 2022.

The City Hall has not been used as an entertainment venue since the start of the pandemic, but since early 2021 it has been used as a large vaccination centre by the NHS to help protect as many people as possible from COVID-19.

It was recently announced that booster vaccinations are available for people aged 75 years old and over, plus people aged 12 years old and over with a weakened immune system. With local COVID-19 rates still high and pressure on the local health system, people are encouraged to book a vaccine appointment if they haven’t already – whether that be a first or second dose or a booster.

As confirmed last month, Wiltshire Council will engage in soft market testing. This means the council will seek to understand the possible level of interest among third-party organisations to manage and operate City Hall on their behalf as a multi-purpose entertainment and cultural venue once the NHS no longer needs it.

This research will help inform the council on the best plan forward to ensure the venue has a long and successful sustainable future. The soft market testing is just one of several options available in helping establish the best way forward for the venue.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said, “We’re very pleased to continue to support the NHS as they carry on with their vital work to ensure people remain as protected from COVID-19 as possible. We are open to them extending the lease further if required and I’m sure there will be discussions with them on that in the near future.

“Looking at the long-term strategy for City Hall, we are now progressing with our soft market test of the venue so that we can look at some of the options available to us when the NHS are no longer using it. We’ll keep people up to date throughout this process.”

Fiona Hyett, Operations Director, Salisbury City Hall Covid-19 vaccination centre, said, “Hundreds of thousands of lifesaving Covid-19 vaccinations have been given out at the City Hall since January of last year, and we are absolutely delighted to be able to continue working from this fantastic location, right in the heart of Salisbury, for at least another six months.

“While most people in our area have had a Covid-19 vaccination, our doors remain open for any person yet to come forward, as well as for older people due their second booster jab and those young children now eligible for their single vaccine dose.”

More information about City Hall and the soft market test can be found here.

To book a vaccination appointment and for more information, people should click here.