High hopes for civic centre

3:26am Tuesday 8th April 2008

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A multi-million pound scheme to revitalise Otley Civic Centre has been unanimously backed by the Town Council.

Councillors have voted to proceed with a £3.3 million redevelopment which would see the Grade II listed building comprehensively modernised, with an estimated ready to use' date of summer, 2010.

The project aims to transform the civic centre into a fully accessible and more commercially viable building. It includes:

• Making the ground and first floor storeys single level', with no stairs to negotiate
• A foyer in the centre of the building with stairs and lift to an upper floor, and a central foyer with bar to service events in the hall
• Creating a dedicated reception area and ground floor, and a glass-walled café near the front entrance
• The introduction of a flat stage and retractable seating in the Main Hall, along with improved fire escapes, allowing conference and events space for up to 400 people
• Providing office space for the town council and to rent, along with more storage space
• Fully accessible toilets.

But before any detailed plans can proceed the town council and consultants Pulse need to get Leeds City Council (LCC) - which owns the property but is willing to transfer it to the town council - to agree.

Town Council leader, Councillor Jim Spencer, said: "We unanimously agreed to adopt the proposals and proceed to discussions with LCC about progression from here.

"The recommendation was to form a limited company with charitable status to run the building independently. This arrangement removes the building from the vagaries of political control and allows access to funding which would be otherwise unavailable.

"A timetable for action was produced aimed at opening the new building in summer, 2010.

"The very next thing to do is to engage LCC in the plan. It has to be remembered that it is their building and mostly their money that is involved so they obviously have to agree before we can go further.

"When we have that agreement I am anxious to speak to the present users about the effect the plans will have on them and to involve as soon as possible groups and individuals to form the company which will eventually run the building.

"The summer will be spent working up the detail of the plan including an acoustic appraisal, an energy audit and an investigation of the floor of the main hall.

"The construction would start in autumn, 2009, and be completed in summer, 2010."