by muppetanimal » Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:10 pm
As I have no intention of standing for the Council, Holyrood, Westminster or Brussels (are we still members ?) I have no need to appeal to certain people regarding the future of the Town Hall.
A building constructed by 19th century craftsmen that needs to be maintained by 21st century tradesmen is sadly going to be lacking in the care and attention to detail needed to return it to its original condition.
The £1.3 million is but a beginning, going forwards more substantial funds will be required and, as time goes on, it will regrettably become a money-pit for time immemorable.
An examination of future projected income and expenditure, combined with the current outlays, would suggest to even the most elementary economist that the concept of cost-benefit analysis has been overlooked by the "Save Our Town Hall" campaigners, the building is not particularly "fit for purpose" in the modern era and should have been replaced by a modern "elderly and disabled friendly" structure with associated on-site parking facilities.
The idea that we must salvage and re-use every dilapidated building close to the centre of town is a folly. Might I suggest to the "Save the Wee Toon" campaigners that they turn their attention to the disused courthouse in Bolgam Street, a building far more likely to collapse in upon itself than the Town Hall, although what becomes of it thereafter would again be something not as cost effective as a demolition and new-build on the same site.
adoptedscot suggests that absentee landlords are the main problem with the town centre. Might I alternatively suggest that the town centre was already in gradual decline before the bulk of the absentee landlords discovered how cheap the properties were in the town, and that equally it is listed building and conservation area regulations that actually hinder the "sprucing up" of many a tired old tenement. Traditional building materials are all very good, and yes timber sash windows are nicer to look at than upvc, but those leaky roofs that need re-slated with materials from a quarry closed in 1955 at Ballachulish might just have to wait until reusable second-hand items become available and at a price that is acceptable.
Last edited by
muppetanimal on Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.