Keep Nicoll Hall but demolish community hall, says Inveraray survey
People in Inveraray would like to see the unused community hall on Main Street demolished, with a new one built in its place.
That is the outcome of a public consultation carried out by Inspire Inveraray, the group that maintains local assets for the benefit of the community.
The community hall was built after demolition of the old school building in 1907. It has fallen into disrepair and is on the Buildings at Risk Register.
Inspire Inveraray appointed consultants to formalise local opinion on the future of the hall.
But the favoured option would be expensive and has given the directors of the community trust much to think about.
Inspire Inveraray recently renovated and re-opened the historic pier and is currently working on a £500,000 project to rebuild the wooden extension.
Consultants Glic has recommended that if the group takes forward the first preference for the hall, to rebuild on the current site, a comprehensive feasibility study will be needed.
Linda Divers, director, said: “It’s something we have to sit down and talk about. A feasibility study would cost between £15,000 and £25,000. That’s a lot of money.”
The consultants say the study would need to determine legal ownership and the authority Inspire Inveraray has regarding the physical building and land situation.
A costed options appraisal would be required for the layout and design of the new hall to meet current and future community needs.
With its location in the centre of the Royal Burgh, space would be an issue and parking would have to be taken into consideration.
A business plan showing a viable way forward including income generating activities, costs and ongoing management would need to be developed.
The consultation was carried out between August last year and March this year. Five options for the future of the hall were presented at a public event in January and people could also have their say online.
While rebuilding the hall on its current site is preferred, the overwhelming sentiment of the community is “just do something”.
If rebuilding the current hall is unfeasible, the second preference is a new community hall built on a new site, with an outdoor community space erected on the site of the current hall.
In the event that neither are feasible, the community’s third preference is for the current hall to be maintained, renovated and refurbished.
People responding also made it clear the neighbouring Nicoll Hall should be kept on and excluded from any plans for demolition.
People feel a strong sense of nostalgia for the building and it is considered functional for its current use by the senior citizens group that manages it.
If a new hall is built and leads to the Nicoll Hall being unused in the future, the community has shown its desire for a heritage museum, which would be in keeping with the sentiment expressed for the building.
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