Facebook campaign to halt Town Hall changes

By Greigg Adams

More than 600 people have signed up to a Facebook campaign to protest the proposed changes to Stornoway Town Hall, which will see the building stripped of its historical character and turned into a council Paypoint and exhibition space.

The campaign which was only started this week by a Stornoway resident has quickly won widespread support from the community, who have just realised what the proposals will mean to the Town Hall – a focal point for activities and events.

The building, which dates from 1929, has recently benefited from careful historical refurbishment of its façade which saw skilled stone masons painstakingly shape replacement blocks to restore crumbling stonework ensuring its character was maintained.

However with planning permission submitted changes to the interior, which would see the stage area ripped out, the same respect for the building’s interior is not on the cards.

It is planned that the exhibition space would replace the stage with the main hall becoming a flexible function area, and a mezzanine gallery, wheelchair lift and disabled access also incorporated into the new design.

Consultation on the changes took place earlier this year with the Stornoway Gazette highlighting the plans being mooted.

A consultants report suggests that the building has not adapted to modern usage, however protesters disagree.

Stornoway resident, Mairi Smith said of the proposed changes: “I don’t understand it at all.  Why do the council need more offices and as for exhibition space – we have An Lanntair for that job.

“I was just in the Town Hall last week for the charities Hypermarket and numerous events use the building each week – this week the local panto is on – so we need this space.

“One minute the council are saying we don’t have enough performance space on the island for things like the Mod and the festival the next they are planning to rape a beautiful old building of its stage and character to replace it with what?  A bland, modern, purely functional interior which will seem odd compared against the building’s façade.”

Objections to the planned proposals can still be lodged with the council, or concerns can be highlighted via the Facebook  social networking site.

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