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Stornoway, Lewis
Councillors urged to “save Stornoway Town Hall” 8/2/10
Campaigners fighting against the plans to alter Stornoway Town Hall are urging councillors to reconsider the changes on the eve of the crucial planning committee vote.
The Save Stornoway Town Hall group have sent an open letter to island representatives.
Writing on behalf of the 1884 members who joined an internet campaign,
Amanda Darling, said: “We believe the proposal is wrong. Removing the original stage will immediately have an adverse effect on the hall itself. From a practical point of view, you will no longer have storage under the stage for seating / tables and stage sets like we currently have now.
“A temporary stage sounds like a solution, but where do the performers backstage go?
Ms Darling added: ““Inserting glass into the western façade with brick as mullions
will not fit in to the historic appearance of the building, and serves no additional
purpose other than an open invitation to vandals -
“Opening up the skylights is a positive step. We hope that there will be black out shutters over these so the light levels can be controlled for performances (if any will happen in future).
“However, removing all the original seating from the viewing gallery is appalling. To level off the floor is daft. To block off the flowing curve of the balcony and insert cheap and nasty Perspex is scandalous. To even think this is acceptable is downright shameful.”
She continued: “We understand the building needs to be made fully accessible. But using this as an excuse to steamroller this proposal through is not acceptable. We hope you commissioned an access audit on the building before the proposal was drawn up.
“If you did we are sure that any audit would have highlighted that the building can be made fully disability accessible by inserting a lift in the north and south annexes of the building.”
Ms Darling stressed: “This proposal, should you approve it, would mean our town hall will have a lesser capacity and wont have the flexibility of use which it currently has. Surely this means the building would be used less than at present? We believe it would.
“To say that An Lanntair and the sports centre can mop up the excess business is, in principle, wrong.
“The town hall was built for a specific function and for specific events. It is a community hall for the people. The aforementioned alternative venues cost a lot more money to use, and do not have the flexibility of our hall.
“Many community groups will falter and fail without the town hall, and the islands adversely affected by it.
“The hall could, we believe, be used more again. It could be in use every week of the year, bringing in much needed revenue. If a top quality kitchen was installed, and a licence available for the premises it could host wedding receptions.
“If the stage is retained, the panto and many other top quality performances can be enjoyed all through the year. If the seating is retained, our hall keeps its character, its great seating capacity and the community can carry on using it as normal.
“If the skylights are reinstated our hall is restored. If new lifts are inserted in the north and south sides of the building, our hall is accessible.”
She added: “We do not believe you consulted widely enough, or for long enough which is a serious flaw in such a proposal as this.
“The efforts of an online group to highlight the issue have raised awareness about what the council plan to do. The anger and backlash shown by the public demonstrates the strength of feeling towards our town hall. Please listen to the voice of the people.
“When it comes to your vote, please vote with your conscience. Please vote with the people and above all please vote for the right reasons.
“If you approve this act of vandalism on our town hall, the legacy of this council will be remembered by (among other things) the council who voted to rip the heart out of our civic building, and our community.”