We need your help - Campbeltown Town Hall

[SKDT]

Town Hall Development Project - We need you to respond to the town hall survey! We need as many responses as possible in order to find out if the town hall can be kept open.

See link below:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Campbeltown_Town_Hall

The project aims to identify whether the Town Hall could be transferred into community ownership offering services run by the community for the community which are complementary to existing services and financially self-sustainable.

All completed questionnaires will be entered into a prize draw for a Christmas Hamper to be held on or around 15th December 2011. If you wish to take part in the prize draw, please provide your full name and address in question 13. The winner will be informed in writing by 20th December 2011.

See the town hall website for regular updates on the projects progress http://campbeltowntownhall.org/ or check out the post on the kintyre forum http://www.kintyreforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=12730

For more information and for paper copies of this survey in large print please contact us on 01586 552870 or claudia.albrecht@skdt.org

[SKDT]

STATE YOUR NEEDS NOW!
If you are interested in business facilities in South Kintyre please go to
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CTH_Business_Survey and complete the brief survey.

This survey is being carried out by South Kintyre Development Trust in partnership with Campbeltown Community Council as part of the Town Hall Development project.

The Town Hall is considered one of Scotland's finest Town Houses in the heart of Campbeltown with ample parking nearby and easy access to public transport.

The Town Hall project aims to identify whether the Town Hall could be transferred into community ownership offering services run by the community for the wider community which are complementary to existing services.

This survey will help to assess the potential demand for business facilities (office space, meeting and conference rooms including video-conferencing, function and exhibition space) that could be accommodated at the Town Hall, once repaired and refurbished.

Chair of the Kintyre Initiative Working Group Councillor Rory Colville said, "I would like to encourage as many businesses as possible to participate in this survey. This a chance to express your need for modern business facilities that could help your business thrive and support the economic development of the area.'


The project is funded by LEADER Argyll and the Islands and Investing in Ideas

[SKDT]

Just a reminder that the business survey for Campbeltown Town Hall is still open and whether you are an established business or a budding entrepreneur we would encourage you to fill in the survey. It is only 5 questions long and will take less than two minutes. Thank you.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Campbeltown_Town_Hall

[SKDT]

Article courtesy of Campbeltown Courier: http://www.campbeltowncourier.co.uk/

IF PEOPLE do not come forward one of Campbeltown’s most iconic buildings could be lost.

This was the message from the driving force behind the project in effort to get the town hall on Campbeltown’s Main Street restored to its former glory.

The Town Hall Project Group (THPG) made up of representatives from the South Kintyre Development Trust and Campbeltown Community Council. They have been working hard to try and get the old building, dating back to 1758, reinstated back to its rightful place – at the heart of the community.

However a lack of ‘active’ volunteers could force the project to a standstill. ‘We need more active people,’ Glenn Millar, director of SKDT stressed. He said the building’s condition has significantly got worse and wants to stress that if people want to do something about it, this is the time.

‘We know its been said before but this really is the last chance,’ said Jim Martin convenor of Campbeltown Community Council. ‘If we are going to take this any further and apply for more funding, we really need to community behind us; not just people showing their support, but active volunteers.’

Despite a cosmetic external facelift in 2009, the building is sliding into a dilapidated state. It has been identified as a key building for the Campbeltown Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) and, as such, is eligible for funding for the external works. Studies commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council have estimated to refurbish the building it will cost around £1.2 million.

Community surveys revealed 82 per cent of people in the area believe that the town hall is Campbeltown’s most important building. Almost 70 per cent of survey respondents said there is not the right mix of community facilities in the town.

A variety of uses could be made of a refurbished town hall including soft play facilities, wedding receptions and offices.

The modernised building would be fully accessible to disabled persons and could result in the return of regular coffee mornings, reinstating a long-standing Campbeltown tradition.

If you are keen to help contact Glenn Millar of SKDT on 01586 553458, at the SKDT office at Harvey’s Lane, Burnside Square Campbeltown, or attend the annual general meeting of the group on March 20 at 7:15pm in the Town Hall’s council chambers.

SKDT can also be contacted on 01586 552870 or info@skdt.org

[WC1]

I had a brief involvement with this group because I want to see the Town Hall continue to be in use at the heart of the community. I take issue, however, with sensational and emotive slogans like "Save the Town Hall" and statements like "one of Campbeltown's most iconic buildings could be lost". What does this mean? Is an iconic, listed building - one of the most important surviving town houses in the whole of Scotland - going to be demolished if people don't come forward? I really don't think so.

I'm also concerned about Argyll and Bute Council selling it off for a nominal amount to a voluntary sector group. This will have the convenient outcome of getting it off the Council's hands, and it's true that a third sector organisation will be able to access grant funding that the Council can't. But let's ca' canny - and a bit less of the sensationalism please.