West Kirby Arts Centre is to close for good at the end of April, with it set to be converted into a home for its owners.
The centre is housed in the former West Kirby Unitarian Chapel on Brookfield Gardens, which opened in 1928.
The chapel and an adjacent hall were put up for sale by trustees in 2010, and were later bought by Tony Woof and his wife, who converted the hall into their home and opened the centre in the chapel.
The couple are now retiring, but have been unable to find anyone to take on the management of the centre.
To preserve the building for future posterity, they have now submitted a planning application to convert the chapel into a three bedroom property which they will live in themselves.
Tony told West Kirby Today: “We have had 13 great years running the Arts Centre presenting, local, national and international artists. Approaching retirement we have decided that the best way to preserve the building, retaining its beautiful architectural features, is by converting it into our home.
“We know many will be disappointed that we cannot keep the centre open for longer but the financial reality is that it is not a viable going concern. We would like to thank all the people that have supported us and the centre over the years and brought so much joy to the place.
“I am very pleased to announce that all the various groups who regularly used the centre have now found new homes around the town so their great work supporting and promoting the arts in West Kirby will continue.”
A heritage statement submitted with the plans reveals that it will have a mezzanine floor and each bedroom will have an en-suite.
It states: “The design approach for the conversion to residential use is to be sympathetic to the original building maintaining as much of the architectural quality and features as possible internally and externally.
“Converting to just one residential unit allows sufficient space to incorporate all new spaces and services without damaging any of the existing structure and where possible the structure that has been altered previously to enable the Art Centre to operate in the building will be reverted back to it’s original state.
“In particular the internal wall will be re-instated in the entrance hall and the door opening created to access the ‘ancillary areas’ at that side of the building will be reinstated with a window to match the original.
“All the ancillary, Art Centre structures to the side and rear of the building will be carefully removed and the exterior wall cleaned and repaired as required.”
The exterior of the chapel
A method statement adds: “The conversion work will be informed by the work already successfully carried out in the adjacent Church Hall by Mr and Mrs Woof.
“The intention is to preserve as much of the existing structure and character of the building as possible, paying particular attention to preserving the unique architectural features and fittings.
“In particular we will preserve the existing wood panelling, wood block parquet floor, barrel vaulted ceiling, wooden window frames, existing internal and external doors, original brickwork and Westmorland slate roof.”
The Woof’s have previously turned down three developers who wanted to demolish the current buildings and replace them with either town houses or apartments.
A list of the remaining events at West Kirby Arts Centre can be found at https://hallbookingonline.com/westkirby/.