Library/museum

[Ship called Dignity]

Moving the Library to the Aqualibrium does not mean the Burnett building will be empty. The Council are just looking to find ways to fund the on-going costs and they see this as being possible by using the building for council services.

I don't believe for one second and likes of the Burnett Building could be knocked down or turned into flats. It doesn't belong to the council as far as I know - it was a gift to the people and now maintained by our council.

Egg-shell time again - above is for information only

[Kintyre Lad]

Exactly - they are historic buildings of extreme worth to the town and not mere offices. I sympathise with those involved in this situation as it is one they should not be in but these buildings are off great historical significance to the town.

Not sitting empty they are not, because then they get knocked down or turned into flats

Perhaps the town hall is not so unreasonable as the lower half is not used and moving offices there to secure the rest of the building does perhaps make sense

But leaving the Burnett Building empty makes sense???

but the plans do not show the proposals for the Burnett building in any great light! Imagine getting married in amongst stuffed animals! Shocked

This would make great wedding photos...lol.

Enlighten me then Kintyre Lad.

What do you think the building should be used for???

I'm only going on what i have read on here. The library is moving.. what about the museum part?

If the building is going to be empty, then find a use for it pronto.

The town hall here in Greenock is one of the finest buildings in the town.

Having the council down there use these two buildings would be on a parr with that.

My opinion only though..

Daftdog - good name, eh?

The bottom line is buildings of this historical importance should not be allowed to get into any state of dis-repair - this should be solid undertaking of any Council. Whether the town hall is used or not - it should still be maintained by the Council as the town's centre piece.

As for the Burnett buildings - I am sure it wouldn't take rocket science to find a suitable use for it. Tourist Information Centre has been suggested - well there is a good idea! Museum - expanded as previously proposed - now there is another good idea. Perhaps a centre that displays everything about Kintyre or the likes?

Do you honestly think it is good use of tax payers money to yet again move council staff to other offices? What about in 15 years time when part of the next re-organisation kicks in and the staff have to move to an all purpose call centre for example - a one-stop shop I believe they are called nowdays? What then? Will the Council have the revenue to revert the Burnett Building to its former glory? I think not?

I am one who has used this building extensively for the last 50 years so yes I am conerned that now I can only use if it I want to see someone about my council services!

PS - I would agree the town hall in Greenock is a lovely building!

[Bobbie En Tejas]

..

[Pete Reek]

Would some of those writing on the forum tell us when last they set foot in the Library/Museum.?

Obviously if it is as well visited as we are led to believe, it should surely be left as it is, and an entry fee paid by the hordes of visitors using it would pay for it's upkeep.

If on the other hand it's not well attended, perhaps council offices in there would ensure the building would be taken care of for many years to come.

Not grinding axes by the way.

[Trapper]

week and a half ago.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

I posted last night, but had second thoughts about it, thinking maybe people would think it was none of my business. Its not my building or my town or my money. But I have been there, I have visited the building, and I have even taken pictures of it, so I am going to repost, and I really hope you guys reconsider turning it into offices.

Why not give the building the respect it deserves and make it a museum and art gallery, a place where people of all ages can take classes and display their work, and where some of the beautiful photography we have seen on the forum can be displayed. Townspeople and visitors alike could enjoy the building, it would be alive, and it would be a place of good feeling and not a place of possible contentions.

[Ranald]

I posted last night, but had second thoughts about it, thinking maybe people would think it was none of my business. Its not my building or my town or my money. But I have been there, I have visited the building, and I have even taken pictures of it, so I am going to repost, and I really hope you guys reconsider turning it into offices.

Why not give the building the respect it deserves and make it a museum and art gallery, a place where people of all ages can take classes and display their work, and where some of the beautiful photography we have seen on the forum can be displayed. Townspeople and visitors alike could enjoy the building, it would be alive, and it would be a place of good feeling and not a place of possible contentions.

The simple answer, and what it all boils down to at the end of the day, is that no-one seems to have the money or is willing to spend the money to do anything with the library and the town hall.

The council can justify spending money on the buildings by turning them into offices, which will at least keep them to a decent standard.

[daftdog]

Another option is that the council leave the buildings empty until the towns folk all agree on a good and proper use for them.

I'm sure the council would agree to this as long as they are not required to foot the bill for the upkeep of the building, unless there is a wee increase in the council tax rate to cover the added expense.

I bet one or two readers of this post spat their tea and digestives all over the screen with that suggestion...lol. but what are the alternatives?

The Old Gaol and Courthouse is an older building than the Burnet and its up keep has went well over the years it has been empty has it not??




Is that the way to go, because if it is left empty for too long, it will be sold and used for whatever..or end up like this..

The burnet building belongs to the town. Its under the control of the council, so they are the ones who will decide.

Thus if you do not agree and want to use it for something else, then get off ya bums and get it done yersel.. Find the use, find the funding, stop it becoming offices, give the council the options... if not, stop bleating about it. The building will be maintained under the current council proposals.. the buildings will be maintained..END OF.

The buildings have to survive, in what ever guise nessasary.. The longer they are in use, the longer they will be standing to be proud of and admired by townsfolk and visitors alike.

[Annie]

Why not give the building the respect it deserves and make it a museum and art gallery, a place where people of all ages can take classes and display their work, and where some of the beautiful photography we have seen on the forum can be displayed. Townspeople and visitors alike could enjoy the building, it would be alive, and it would be a place of good feeling and not a place of possible contentions.

I think Bobbie's idea is just brilliant!

[daftdog]

Thep,

The Old Gaol and Courthouse is an older building than the Burnet and its up keep has went well over the years it has been empty has it not??

Is that the way to go, because if it is left empty for too long, it will be sold and used for whatever..or end up like this..

There is a major difference in the comparison you have made to these buildings in Bolgam Street. These are privately owned buildings and therefore the Council has no responsibility (unless they become unsafe).

I didn't say the council owned the Old Gaol House, i was inferring that if left empty with no real purpose, the burnet building could go the same way, although i find it hard to believe it would get as bad, as it would be flats before that..

However, there is a civic duty for our Council to maintain two of our finest buildings whether these are occupied or not.

Yes, but what would you rather see happen, them maintaining an empty building or use it themselves? If they are not going to use it them selves, then at the very least it needs to be leased out on a full repairing and insurance lease, this way the council are making some money, not spending it. What use of the building would allow this though ?

However, I was under the impression that part of this move meant the Museum would expand and become a tourist attraction in its own right. There is certainly scope for the Heritage Centre to move there too as the Lorne Street Church building is crumbling!

I thought this to about the museum and putting the tourist info office in there, might get a few more paying customers to actually visit it (it would need a bit of an upgrade though, as it was mostly deed critters the last time i was in it)

And if they moved the Heritage Centre in there, just think how many flats would fit onto the Lorne Street site..!!!

What is the matter with the towns folk deciding? Or at least having a view or a say which has not been allowed to happen.

Where did i say the townsfolk shouldn't have a say?? I said

Thus if you do not agree and want to use it for something else, then get off ya bums and get it done yersel.. Find the use, find the funding, stop it becoming offices, give the council the options... if not, stop bleating about it.

It really doesn't affect me, no matter what happens to the buildings. When i next come to town it will be as a tourist

Wouldn't you agree that a one stop shop of council services is the most cost effective way forward? Look at the costs of this move? Christ I could build a series of homes with gold taps in them!

Well by selling the Dell road building, the council can cover the cost of the move and someone can build the very same "series of homes with gold taps in them! " lol.

At the end of the day, there are a lot of different ideas floating about and the council will not spend money looking at the different options, as they want the office space.. The people who see different opportunities need to do some leg work and get support from many others in the town and surrounding areas, after all tourists only account for some of the money being spent in the town..

The only thing the building should not be used for is a PUB...lol. id rather see it sold off and dismantled brick by brick and rebuilt in Germany or somewhere..

[sooze]

I was under the impression that when this all came up earlier this year we were told that the museum would move into the library part and the museum would become the marriage room so why is it now a museum, meeting, marriage room?

Are visitors to the museum going to be thrown out when a wedding takes place?
What meetings are going to be in this room?
I think expanding the museum would be an asset to the area but with the archivist post gone/reduced to keeping records of what is happening on a part time basis we are now being left with an historic county losing yet another chance to increase tourism and an attraction to the area. Marketed properly and even with free admission it is possible to make money through sales of souviners and a tearoom.

Sooze

[Ship called Dignity]

It really doesn't affect me, no matter what happens to the buildings. When i next come to town it will be as a tourist

As a tourist is does affect you then, does it not? (see below)

Well by selling the Dell road building, the council can cover the cost of the move and someone can build the very same "series of homes with gold taps in them! " lol.

Need to point me to your information source there DD.....(ps - look at the proposed costs too)

Let me put this another way, and is relevant to your point above DD. The town has a number of buses visiting daily from April - September this year. On any of these days, particuarly when it is wet, where would you point visitors to the town to visit? (this is not directed just at DD)

[Iona]

The museum would be a suggestion but to be fair it is pretty poor.

[paraffin man]

It is like the saying we hear so often when someone questions why it is being done this way the reply is 'but, we have always done it this way....

The p, You are so right when you say this. in my line of work i more or less here this everyday We are in a society that is now evolving more & more, through either personel change or the old one on the ever constrained budgets. We have to realise that changes have to come. it is human instinct to defend change as we all get into our 'comfort zones' when this changes it is human nature to defend this, i do it & everyone does it.

We may not like what is happening, we can put up a fight, but if it is going to happen it will, which i think it will anyway & six months down the line the dust will have settled & all the commotion will have been forgotten, except by the diehards who have always been against it & always will be against it.

We have to evolve & give this a chance, & as i have said in an earlier posting we have to trust the councillors on this, we have all voted them into the position & we have to have faith in them to make the decision on behalf of their electorate. If the descision proves to be the wrong one then they will no doubt get the brunt of the criticism.

[Annie]

I am still in agreement with Bobbie. I think it would be a great place for local artists to display their art, etc.