“Hand the Town Hall back to the people.”
This was the message from Councillor Charles Rooney, as plans to transform the Town Hall into a multi-million pound, top class, cultural and heritage destination took another step forward today.
Members of Middlesbrough Council’s Executive meeting unanimously agreed that the council would match the £3.27m funding they hope to receive from a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) - bringing the total amount to be invested in the Town Hall to nearly £8m.
Before making their decision, the Executive heard how it would cost £2m to carry out partial maintenance repairs just to keep the town hall standing.
But they were told that choosing this option would not provide any economic regeneration of the area and the venue facilities would remain outdated and unattractive.
The revamp will see the most ambitious development of the building in more than 80 years.
Mayor Ray Mallon said: “We could potentially have a really great venue, if we play our cards right.”
As reported by The Gazette last week, plans for the Town Hall include an upmarket bar, coffee shop or restaurant with a glass atrium, restoration of the Crypt and concert hall, Victorian court, cells and fire station, a new multi-functional community room, new seating and toilets and lighting to illuminate the building at night.
The town hall, which celebrated its 125th birthday earlier this year, was officially opened on January 23, 1889, by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
It is envisaged the concert hall will need to be closed between January 2016 and June 2017 and alternative venues such as mima, Teesside University, Centre Square will be used instead.
Middlesbrough’s register office is also set to move into the town hall after it was announced its current Elm Street home will be demolished to make way for future developments of the town centre.
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