?1.25m handout may not be enough

Published on 7th September 2006 in News

Goole Town Council is moving forward with its plan to create an arts centre in the town - despite the fact that the project could cost much more money than originally thought.

Town councillors discussed the project at their meeting on Monday after receiving a presentation from the architects, Buschow Henley.

Councillors were informed that the major funding from Yorkshire Forward had not yet been confirmed and was not likely to be for some months. However, it was felt that not progressing the project at this stage would mean a loss of momentum and delays in completion.

The town council is seeking a ?1.25 million investment from Yorkshire Forward but Cllr Kester Dean expressed concern at the meeting that this figure may not be enough.

He said: "The figure of ?1.25 million could be quite low. We might need to put air conditioning in throughout the building. We may need to ask Yorkshire Forward for more money.

Councillors voted in favour of progressing the scheme, despite the uncertainty of Yorkshire Forward's investment, and agreed that a design team should be appointed and to confirm their Yorkshire Forward bid as ?1.25 million.

It was also revealed last week that the people in the town are being invited to 'buy a brick' as part of a fundraising campaign for the new arts centre.

A pledge form has been sent out to people on The Gate's mailing list and is also printed at the back of their new brochure.

Plans for the centre, which is to be built on the site of the new market hall and would seat around 170 people, include a cinema, theatre and workshop space, a cafe/bar, a community room and new council offices.

A written list of everyone who 'buys a brick' for ?5 will be kept on display.

The pledge form explains: "We have financial backing from the Arts Council and East Riding Council but there is still a lot of fundraising to be done.

"We hope the final major part of the funding package will be confirmed by mid-autumn, enabling us to begin work on site early in 2007.

"You can help us create this exciting new facility by pledging to buy a brick (or three!)"

However, Paul Thompson, of Montrose Drive, was critical of the pledge.

"It beggars belief when we pay as much council tax as we do," he said.

"When you start any kind of project, you sit down and work out the cost of labour, materials and anything else. Then you decide whether you can afford it or not."