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17 Bayhead St

Stornoway, Lewis

 

 

Raft of objections against town hall plans             6/2/10

 

 

 

About 250 people have objected to the changes proposed for Stornoway Town Hall while accusations of secrecy are levelled at the council.

 

Planning councillors are to vote on the alterations on Tuesday. Hebrides News understands officials will recommend the go-ahead subject to conditions.  Planning officials at the council are still in late negotiations with the developer to resolve some outstanding issues.

 

The plans to rip out the stage and removed the existing raked balcony has raised the hackles of many traditionalists.

 

An exhibition space would replace the stage while a flexible function area would be installed in a new mezzanine gallery instead of the balcony. A wheelchair lift and disabled access would also be built.

 

Upstairs spaces are to be renovated. The building badly needs to be upgraded to make it legally suitable for people with restricted mobility. It has been used much less in recent years after the popularity of the new arts gallery and the sports centre for public functions.

 

Campaigners fighting to save the town hall have accused the council of secrecy over the proposals.

 

The point the changes will slash the seating capacity of the hall and say it would leave the town absent of a performance venue capable of the flexibility of use of the town hall.

 

Protester Amanda Darling stated: “The proposals initially were made public under a cloak of secrecy.

 

“It took a Facebook group to highlight the plans for people to really know what was going on.  Looking at the numbers-  thousands of people signed up, hundreds wrote official objections and signed petitions.  All this was the people's own efforts to inform the public.

 

“This clearly shows the council did not consult widely enough, or for long enough. People are angry, and will be more so if they approve this act on our town hall.”

 

“Judging by the council's previous efforts with consultation, this proposal should fail due to an ineffective consultation, amongst many other reasons”.

 

“Let's hope the council do the right thing.  Let's hope our hall is saved.  Previous Council plans have fallen before for lack of consultation and it could happen again.”

 

The council insists the overall plans underwent extensive public consultation with the community and council meetings on the issue were held in open session.

 

But its stance is weakened somewhat as many councillors cannot recall the devastating news about the jobs crisis at the Uist rocket range - which hit the headlines two years ago - yet use the defence that the town hall redevelopment overall plans were featured in the press around the same time.