The news we get is all new venture
In September 2012 I was asked to give a few facts about the Town Hall of one hundred years ago: architectural designs, loans, comments from the time, construction etc.
The first plans were too grandiose so they were revisited and modified to stay within their funds. Labour only plans were costed and bargains sort. Suitable second hand doors and windows were found and other savings made. A loan of three thousand five hundred pounds (2015 = $567,951) was raised by the Council of the day. This proved to be still not enough and a further loan payable by a special rate was raised. This cost the average ratepayer ten pound one shilling and ninepence a year and took forty one years to be cleared.
While no general public comments from the time are recorded, it is recorded that there were no money left to establish a parking area or landscaping. There was no enthusiasm for further fund raising and subsequently the Town Hall stood in a sea of mud for many years.
One hundred years later a meeting was held by those wanting the Town Hall strengthened and refurbished. Those attending were asked to think up possible ideas as to what could be done to make the Town Hall better used. These to be put forward and considered at a later meeting.
At the following meeting numerous suggestions were brought forward: sports, dances, fairs, Madcaps, other musicals, weddings , funerals, Civil Defence, library, toy library etc. All agreed that the focus had to be to make the Hall more alive. A suggestion of having the Information Centre move to the Hall was strongly rejected.
No follow up meeting was held, seemed we were just surplus to requirements.
At the next public meeting on the Town Hall we learnt of the new venture and told by the Council that that there would be NO increase in rates. That the venture was to go on the cold south side of the Hall and take out a section of the children’s play area.
Please tell the public how much of the Play area ground will be lost to the new building, associated steps and paving, and proposed car parks. There will not be much ground left for children to run around.
Quoting the Mayor on the Town Hall loan at the recent Featherston meeting: “This is Community driven – not Council driven”. However, as I see it, it’s not all the community, just a few. Please cut your suit to suit your cloth.
And what of the Town Hall? What is actually in the $900,000 action plan for it?
