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January
16, 2006
Burnham-On-Sea's Princess Hall could close
unless new owner is found
Burnham-On-Sea's
Princess Hall could be shut down unless a new local organisation
takes it on, we can reveal.
 As
part of a cost-cutting exercise, the current owner, Sedgemoor
District Council, is
seeking
to find different organisations to manage the building.
Spokeswoman
Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "As part of this year's
budget proposals due to be considered by full council in February,
Sedgemoor District Council will be seeking to find alternative
organisations to manage The Town Hall and Trinity Hall in Bridgwater
and the Princess in Burnham-On-Sea."
At
this early stage, the Council is keen to hear any proposals that
local organisations may have on the future of the community hall.
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The Princess was built in 1869 by a private company known
as the Market House and Town Hall Company, at a cost of
£2,000.
Since then it has housed the Council Chambers, been used
as a covered market and accommodated the town fire station
under its first floor auditorium.
In 1994, Sedgemoor District Council embarked upon a major
refurbishment of the building, almost completely re-building
the venue internally and taking out the upper hall to provide
a ground-floor auditorium and several smaller rooms for
hire.
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But
she warned: "However, if no interest
is shown by any organisation, the Council will review its options,
including the possible closure of the hall."
The
spokeswoman added: "We firmly believe halls and buildings
of all sizes can be run by local organisations for their communities
in a far more appropriate way than by a district Council."
"There
are good working examples, such as King Johns Hunting Lodge in
Axbridge and St Georges Hall in Bridgwater, that have been taken
over by local management committees/trusts and have gone from
strength to strength."
Cllr
Duncan McGinty, Leader of Sedgemoor District Council, said: "We
hope that
there will be a considerable amount of local interest in assuming
the role of managing the halls for the local community. This is
a wonderful opportunity for local organisations to get more involved
with their communities."
A
letter seeking 'expressions of interest' in the running of the
halls has been sent to Burnham and Highbridge Town Council. After
it has indicated its intention, other local organisations will
be invited to express their interest.
Town
council clerk Eileen Shaw told Burnham-On-Sea.com late on Monday
that the issue would be discussed by the full council at its February
meeting.
She
added: "We will need to know all the costs and implications
before the town council is able to consider the issue."
The
news comes just days after Sedgemoor District Council announced
it was also trying to sell off another of Burnham-On-Sea's landmarks
- its swimming pool, which we
reported here last week.
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