Organ goes for a song as theatre items sold
THE sale of hundreds of fixtures and fittings from the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre is set to raise tens of thousands of pounds for Sefton Council.
The landmark building, next to Marine Lake, has been closed since March 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck the UK and the building’s operator went into liquidation.
The site was subsequently deemed unfit to be reopened due to a number of serious defects.
The Southport Town Deal initiative has since been able to secure over £33million in Government funding towards creating a new Marine Lake Events Centre on the site, with the consultation on the proposals starting this Thursday (May 26).
NCM Auctions will manage the sale of the items, with 78% of the proceeds going to Sefton Council.
The council insists that “no historical elements will be disposed of” as they will be incorporated into the new events centre
NCM Auctions has project managed many large-scale site clearances and specialise in the disposal of assets from leisure venues, colleges, universities, hotels, plants, factories and other sites.
There are 367 items from Southport Theatre on the firm’s website include:
Rational self-cooking centre – £6,400
● Slush Puppie machine – £650
● Freestanding propane gas fryer – £600
● Hammond organ – £200
● Large quantity of crockey – £400
Pepsi Max vending machine – £300
● Portable dance floor – £300
● Architectural illustrations in frames x10 – £50
● Red stage curtains – £50
● Cleaning buckets – £20
● Contents of prop cupboard – £20
Husky Ice freezer – £20
Cream chest
Large quantity of glassware – £10
● Large Chubb safe – £10
● Brass effect advertising frames x4 – £10
● Seasonal decorations – £10
● Children’s merchandise – £10 The auction closes on June 27 2022.
In his report to the council’s Audit and Governance Committee, Sefton Council executive director place Stephen Watson said: “The purpose of the report is to obtain approval to dispose of fixtures and fittings currently in the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre that are no longer needed due to the plans to demolish the existing venue and to build the new Marine Lake Events Centre.
“Cabinet on June 24, 2021 agreed not to pursue the short term reopening of Southport Theatre and Convention Centre (STCC) after its closure due to the operator going into liquidation due to the effects of Covid19.
“Subsequently Cabinet has agreed to pursue a comprehensive new Events Centre on the site of the existing STCC that will see a new major build project take place.
“As part of the new build a new operator will be secured and as part of the wider project the events centre will be fitted out with new up-to-date equipment.
“Before the demolition of the existing facility, it would be good practice to dispose of the fixtures and fittings within the building such as catering equipment, redundant lights etc. rather than retain as part of the demolition process.
“No historical elements will be disposed of. It is anticipated that where possible these will be incorporated into the new events centre such as lighting, dance floor and projectors.”
NCM Auctions has been chosen due to the number of fixtures and fittings along with its specialist nature as a specialist auction house, which is required to oversee the process from start to finish on behalf of Sefton Council.
The firm provides a fully managed service, with a dedicated account manager. The firm will lead on cataloguing, valuing, and promoting assets, and running the auctions across an advanced online platform – extending the reach and maximising sales. NCM will provide Sefton Council with a 78% rebate of the auction hammer value achieved from all sales.
SEVEN children climbed onto the roof of a coffee shop and started abusing people passing by on the street.
Merseyside Police rushed to Caffe Nero on Lord Street, Southport, at around 7pm on Monday, May 23, following reports of people on the roof of the building.
Once at the scene officers found seven youths, believed to be between 12 and 13, on top of the four-storey building who were reportedly swearing and abusing people passing by below them.
Police requested the help of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service at around 7.10pm and two engines arrived shortly after. Once firefighters reached the roof all of the teenagers had left the building and fled the scene.
Nobody was injured during the incident and no arrests were made. Police believe the youths climbed scaffolding to reach the roof of the cafe.