Earlestown Town Hall Audio-Visual and Lighting

Following Newton-le-Willows Neighbourhood Board and Cabinet approval, the Board are taking forward in Year 1 the three early delivery projects below:

• St Johns Playground - the installation of a new playground at St Johns Park in Earlestown to replace existing equipment and create an inclusive, fully accessible recreation space for young people in the heart of the community. 
• Earlestown Town Hall Audio-Visual and Lighting -  the installation of professional, high-quality Audio-Visual and lighting infrastructure in the main hall of Earlestown Town Hall to add further functionality and community uses beyond the restoration of the historic building into a flexible, multi-use space for the community. 
• Arts on Prescription - a programme of arts and creative workshops for adults experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and depression, providing a creative route to wellbeing based at Newton Library.  

What will the Earlestown Town Hall Audio-Visual Project include?

The project purpose is to install a high-quality, integrated Audio-Visual (AV) and lighting system within the main hall at Earlestown Town Hall, enabling the venue to operate as a flexible community, leisure and performance space.

Without the funding from Newton-le-Willows Neighbourhood Board, Earlestown Town Hall would reopen as a fantastic, flexible multi‑use space, but without permanent AV and stage lighting. Users would need to bring or hire their own equipment, which risks excluding smaller or grassroots groups who lack the resources, confidence, or technical support to do so, and could limit the range and quality of performances, activities and community events. Therefore, this project will install accessible, easy‑to‑use AV and lighting infrastructure, providing a dedicated, inclusive space that supports the individual needs of local leisure and performance groups, schools, and voluntary organisations thereby reducing barriers to participation and maximising the building's community benefit.

Engagement was undertaken throughout initial stages of project development with prospective user groups to inform and validate the AV and lighting specification. NADOS, a local amateur dramatic and operatic society, stated they were "delighted to be included in the consultation process" and emphasised that the audio-visual and staging facilities are "paramount to [their] needs when producing theatre shows, musicals, and pantomimes."

As part of this project, the below equipment is to be installed:

• An Audio System - inclusive of main loudspeakers, stage monitors, mixing console, and both wired and wireless microphone systems.
• A Lighting System - inclusive of a lighting control console, truss infrastructure and rigging, stage and profile fixtures, haze machine, and accessories.
• A Video System - inclusive of a high-performance projector and motorised screen, with wireless presentation switch and dongles for HDMI and USB-C connectivity.
• A Stage Drape Package - inclusive of a motorised velvet front curtain, side legs, pelmet and upstage backdrop.

Next Steps

Procurement is expected to commence in Spring 2026, with contractor award to be executed prior to equipment installation in Autumn 2026, following the Earlestown Town Hall main construction contract completion.