Charitable trust will raise funds for Pavilion replacement

The charity will be called Arts Venue in Dacorum (AViD), which will also seek sponsorship for a new performance venue.

Dacorum Borough Council has said it is not able to financially support the project but leader Andrew Williams has promised that self-sustaining commercial options will be considered.

AViD group chairman Mike Ridley said: “The council’s strategic plan is to build 10,000 new homes in the next fifteen years to support 10,000 new jobs and regeneration, particularly in Hemel town centre and Maylands. Clearly a town of that size is big enough for its own venue which will also support service sector jobs in restaurants, café’s and shops.”

Trustees and office bearers will be elected at a public meeting in St Mary’s Church Hall, High Street, on Thursday, January 21 at 8pm.

Invitations have been sent to the campaign’s 1.500 supporters and the public is being notified via a new Facebook page, which will feature new campaign branding designed by 24 year old graduate Anthony Fox.

Mr Ridley said: “This is your chance to make your mark in history by putting your signature to the inaugural constitution of the AViD Charitable Trust”

Hemel Hempstead’s Pavilion was demolished in 2002 because it was losing money.

Sign up to the campaign at https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/help-bring-back-the-heart-of-hemel-hempstead#

Visit AVid’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HemelHempsteadHub