I joined the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove to check on the refurbishment of Holyhead’s Ucheldre Centre this week.
The arts and cultural venue was awarded £4 million in UK Government Levelling Up funding with a matching Arts Council of Wales grant of £600,000 to allow for extra dance and art studios and a general refurbishment.
Both myself and the cabinet minister donned hi-vis jackets and hard hats to see the refurbishment work due to be completed next spring.
We were welcomed by the centre’s general manager Mike Gould. Also there were council representatives.
It was really exciting to see the work taking place at the Ucheldre and I know Holyhead is looking forward to a bigger and brighter centre reopening following this refurbishment.
The project was a worthy winner of the Levelling Up Fund grant and Art Council Wales funding and it will be able to host more people and more events when it is finished as well as more employment opportunities for Holyhead too.
It was good for the secretary of state to drop by to see how this money is being spent while he was on Ynys Môn chairing the Islands Forum.
The centre had struggled with insufficient space and capacity to host its extensive events programme ranging from children-parent activities to theatre and opera screenings. The expansion will increase the number and type of events it can hold.
The construction phase of their works, led by North Wales based contractor Grosvenor Construction, is on schedule. Repairs and renewal work to the existing building, replacement of timber beam installation in the gallery and acceleration of the groundworks for the new extension are all happening.
Mike Gould added: “As one of our patrons, Virginia has been exceptionally proactive in her support and championing of Ucheldre, supporting our community and educational projects, turning out in wind and rain to witness our tree planting, events and workshops.”
