Hello Everyone
Many thanks to all who showed an interest. 123 people managed to attend, but I know many couldn’t.
Here is the link to the information on the Trust website:
Options appraisal (19th July 2024) – Armstrong Hall Trust
Mayor James Murray chaired the meeting. He is now the Chair of the Trust.
Firstly, he appealed for ideas to help groups find short-term accommodation, so please get back to him on armstronghalltrust@gmail.com with any ideas. He indicated that the Trust will be able to help such groups. (It’s a shame that this offer comes so many years after the large groups encountered a problem, but better late than never.)
Then three presentations followed. Cllr John Reynolds summarised Option A very clearly, indicating that the £10m needed to undertake a radical rebuild of the Complex was unattainable in the present economic climate. He also pointed out that the disruption in terms of noise and dust would be a problem for neighbours. (It wasn’t mentioned in any other context, but this would equally apply if the site is sold.)
I presented Option C, which is to refurbish the Complex to a compliant level, potentially achievable in 7 months, focusing initially on the Cossham Hall to permit a new community enterprise to start functioning as soon as possible, while work is in progress on recovering the Main Hall. All this would be in advance of a thorough review of the operation within 2-3 years, to consider further spend going forward. I was also able to provide the “hot off the press” news that Maggie and Stephen Lansdown, with their local upbringing, are not only keen to support the project once viability can be proved, but also happy to donate £350k for the restoration work, to get the operation restarted as soon as possible. Maggie’s mother, Betty Brock, lived latterly in Tanners Court, and this gift would be made in her memory.
This should remove a major doubt from the Trustee’s thinking. Throughout the last 4 years, some Councillors have considered that no more money should be spent on an ageing hall. Other people are of the opinion that environmental factors point towards the benefits of retaining and developing existing structures wherever possible.
Option T3, only published 3 days before the meeting, due to necessary legal restrictions, provided an interesting plan which for around £2m would build a 300-seater auditorium (matching the main Armstrong Hall but excluding the Cossham Hall) on the side car park adjacent to Turnberries, enabling the main hall to become a stage area. Cllr Fiona Deas made the presentation. It’s an interesting back-up plan (my view), but raises immediate concerns about flexibility, capacity, ownership, management and loss of the town’s asset.
The final presentation was from Cllr Danny Bonnett, a project manager in the field of wind turbines. He showed slides explaining the scoring system the Trustee will be referencing. Unfortunately, it revealed certain fundamental errors in understanding of the Option C Dossier, confirming our fears that there had been insufficient engagement in the Option C proposal, evidenced by barely any questioning over the last several months.
The Q and A session that followed could easily have gone on for much, much longer. At one point, an audience member asked for a show of hands. An estimated 95% preferred Option C, whereas no hands at all went up for Option T3.
PLEASE NOTE: JAMES IS ADAMANT THAT A DECISION WILL BE MADE THIS THURSDAY 25TH JULY AT THE TRUSTEE’S MONTHLY MEETING.
Some of us have objected very strongly that this is an insufficient time to consult the public and permit proper feedback.
Another widely held doubt is that the Charity Commission would approve of a plan to sell the asset while there is another option on the table.
The Trustees welcome comments over the remaining few days, so do please write with your thoughts and opinions, whatever they may be, to armstronghalltrust@gmail.com. If you choose to copy or blind-copy me in it will help me know how you are feeling.
If you know people who have no internet access, we will try to get a copy of the documents into the library today.
Phew! What an evening!
Best wishes,
Jill
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