Guildhall Quotes considered by Town Council

Guildhall Quotes
There was a meeting this evening of Abingdon-on-Thames Guildhall Committee to consider the quotes tendered by companies for redeveloping the Guildhall.

The guildhall closed for re-development at the end of 2015. Planning permission and a final public consultation on the plans happened in the summer of 2016, and quotes have been requested based on the plans

The major features of the plans include a cafe area with ground floor access, a multi functional hall with cinema equipment. The old concrete ramps front and back will be removed, and internal access improved.

7 thoughts on “Guildhall Quotes considered by Town Council

  1. Julian

    Maybe I’m being a bit thick here…but shouldn’t quotes and costs be obtained BEFORE the final public consultation? So let me guess….costs will be obtained now..and lo and behold it will be so costly that the white elephant of a project will be abandoned.
    Save money and demolish the monstrosity and just leave the old part!

    Reply
  2. Steve

    I would suspect that the management at the Cornerstone Didcot would love to have a dedicated Stage with a Fly tower. However, the proposed plans for the Guildhall Abingdon indicate that the multipurpose space is turned 180 degs, with a very small (useless) stage at the opposite end – relegating the expensive Stage and Flytower to storage (if memory serves me right). Not sure that this is making the most of existing facilities, or providing value for the residents of Abingdon. But at least there is another Cafe!

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  3. newcomer

    From the beginning the TC has regarded this as a ‘form’ and not a ‘function’ project. Some kind of ‘transformers’ building that they thought could provide something for everyone and will turn out to provide nothing to anyone in particular. Trying to please everyone and just irritating everybody.

    At one of the first public meetings on this ‘project’ I remember backstreeter asking why the carbuncle couldn’t just be demolished and him being told that would cost more than doing something with the building.

    We should remember that exchange while the TC continues to shovel money down this pit over the years to come.

    Reply
  4. Kerry

    I agree wholeheartedly with Newcomer – I also fear this project is trying to…..

    ‘provide something for everyone and will turn out to provide nothing to anyone in particular. Trying to please everyone’

    Please be brave and use the building for something distinctive – that is done to a high quality – and hopefully adds to the experience of living in Abingdon. I would like a good quality cinema facility but I don’t mind if it is something else – as long as we don’t end up with money spread thinly across ‘multi-functional space’.

    Being distinctive should also help in getting investment from other sources and in ensuring that people have a reason to visit any café or social space that is created. There is already a lot of competition here.

    Reply

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