Otley Civic Centre users to get say on revamp (From Wharfedale Observer)

Otley Civic Centre users to get say on revamp

7:04pm Wednesday 18th July 2007 in Local news By Jim Jack

USERS of Otley Civic Centre will be given the chance to comment on its modernisation plans in the next few weeks.

An exhibition to be held at the centre - dates and times are just being finalised - will mark the start of a new consultation phase in the plans to transform the ageing building into a profitable, fully accessible community hub.

Pulse Regeneration, which has been given the task of co-ordinating the revamp - expected to take two years and to cost up to £3 million - announced plans for the event during a presentation to Otley Town Council's Executive Board on Monday.

Pulse's Managing director, Chris Hart, outlining the long and complex road to making the project a reality, said getting public feedback about possible new uses for the centre was vital.

He said: "We need to appoint an architect, look at future uses and undertake a consultation event, and meet with Leeds City Council (LCC) very quickly to let them know this is happening, we're serious about it and we're taking things forward.

"The consultation meeting will show existing drawings, visuals of new suggested uses and have feedback sheets for people to fill in.

"People can come in, give us their views and we will record that. We also want to set up a separate room to sit and interview some of the groups that use the building.

"This will prove the demand for some of the uses for the building and strengthen the business case to be put to LCC." Mr Hart also stressed the need to compile a convincing business plan to persuade LCC that "the skills are here to manage the place properly and that things have been thought through and that it can be run on a commercially viable basis'.

As for the handover of the building from Leeds to Otley, he said setting up some kind of charitable trust might be required.

"That might be absolutely essential to attracting some grants," he said. "And we need to think about what uses we might bring to the building, for example in the large hall - could we have functions or conferences in there?

"Could we open up the front of the building, which is quite cluttered, and put a café in there? That would bring people in."

He added that getting the maximum possible use out of the refurbished building, so it paid for itself and made a profit to sustain its future, was essential - and warned that it would involve a culture-shift where everything was put on a commercial footing.

The modernisation scheme will involve making improvements to the centre's corridors and rooms, adding a new second floor level to the rear, and restoration work on the main hall.

Councillors voted unanimously to move the project to the next stage by agreeing to employ an architect.