Sunday, March 9, 2014

Group raises questions about hall's future

 
 
 

* Interior pictures of Tyn Dwr Hall courtesy of Lawray Architects.

A Llangollen community group has asked Denbighshire County Council for assurances about the future of historic Tyn Dwr Hall in the town.

As llanblogger revealed last week, the 1860s building and former youth hostel is being closed as an outdoor centre by the University of Central Lancashire which has used it for that purpose since 2009 following a £2 million refurbishment.

The Keep Llangollen Special (KLS) group has now written to Mark Dixon, the county’s strategic regeneration manager, putting a number of questions about the hall.

KLS chair Martin Crumpton says in an email to him: “Undoubtedly you’re aware that Tyn Dwr Hall, Llangollen, will likely fall victim to cuts by UCLAN, despite its award-winning refurbishment in 2009.

“Its intrinsic value, and its part in the community make it unthinkable to leave it and its grounds to fall derelict, as was Denbigh Hospital. Given the consequences of that sorry episode, avoiding a similar situation is paramount to all of us.

“On behalf of our community group, Keep Llangollen Special, we would like to ask: Can UCLAN’s shortfall be made up for it to continue; are there viable alternatives, either public or private, which would maintain the house, outbuildings, grounds and jobs; can KLS be involved? Our intention is to be supportive.”

The company’s website shows that as lead architect on the refurbishment, Lawray Architects developed designs to convert the building into three-star accommodation, which reflected the brief not only to provide an educational facility for students, but to allow the building to hold commercial conferences and team building events.

The development includes bedrooms, teaching rooms and lecture facilities, IT suites, dining and relaxation areas and ancillary storage buildings to hold outdoor equipment.

The project received the Llangollen Civic Society Award ‘for the sympathetic restoration and renovation of a Victorian building’ and the North Wales LABC Building Excellence award, County Winner for the ‘Best Commercial Development less than £1million’.

2 comments:

  1. Astonishing that they're pulling out of this fantastic building only a few years after a major refurb.

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  2. Just wondered how much taxpayers' money / grant funding went into the two million pound refurbishment of this building?

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