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29 November 2007
What’s happening at the town hall?
Progress is now visible. The contractor, BEAM Construction Ltd, has erected a site compound at the front of the building and fast-filling skips can be seen in the rear car park.
Ground floor demolitions are well under way. In the old museum, all the cabinets, the spiral stairs, the gallery and the floors have been removed.
  
The floor of the offices along Cross Hayes Lane has also been removed. When the timbers were ripped out, it was discovered that the original flag-stone floor still lay beneath, albeit in very bad repair. Before it was removed, the archaeologist appointed by the Town Council visited the site to inspect. Nothing of historical significance was found, but a pile of old library tickets dating back to 1929 lay scattered across the flags.
Being in such bad repair, the stone flags were removed and are to be replaced with an insulated concrete slab.
The ground is now being prepared for the laying of the slab.
Doors, floor and ceiling finishes and old electrical equipment have been removed and the demolition of the main concrete stair is beginning.
  
The steel transfer beam which is to support the stage once the stair has been removed was inserted into the building on 23 November. This was done by creating a hole in the front of the building and “threading” the beam through.
The new electrical installations have begun, including fire and security alarms.
THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED ONCE A MONTH.
8 October 2007
Renovation Project Under Way
After months of planning, negotiation and design work, the Phase 1 of a two-phase renovation project for the Malmesbury Town Hall is underway, with the appointed contractors now on site.
After in-depth discussions with the planning and listed buildings departments at North Wiltshire District Council, award-winning local architectural practice, Taylor Seymour Architects submitted the planning application on 31 January this year and received approval on 28 March.
The Building Regulations application was submitted on 17th May this year and permission was granted on 24th July.
No time was lost in inviting tenders for Phase 1. The Cheltenham-based contractor, Beam Construction Ltd, submitted the winning tender and the programme for Phase 1 is to run from 24th September 2007 to 31st March 2008 with a watching brief maintained by an approved archaeologist to comply with the planning approval conditions.
Phase 2 will be treated as a separate contract some time in the future when funding has been arranged.
A sub-committee of the Town Council, comprising councillors, local residents and representatives from the Residents’ Association and the Athelstan museum was formed in 2006 to undertake the enormous task of making this project a reality. Called the “Project Board” and led by John Lawton, now the Mayor of Malmesbury, this group has worked closely with consultants and Town Hall user groups to put together a design which will enhance the community life of Malmesbury by providing an up-to-date facility for its use.
APPOINTED CONSULTANTS
The consultants appointed by the Town Council include Taylor Seymour Architects, based in Oaksey, who have designed the scheme (www.taylor-seymour.com), Complete Construction Management Ltd, based in Cheltenham (www.ccm-ltd.co.uk) who will project manage the project as well as provide quantity surveying services; BC2 based in Cirencester (www.bc2ltd.co.uk) who will consult on mechanical and electrical services; and David Smith Associates, consulting structural engineers, who will oversee the structural design (www.dsagroup.co.uk ).
FUNDING
The Town Council is actively involved in raising approximately £1.6 million required to complete both phases of the project, with £800 000.00 in the pot already for the completion of Phase 1.
31 January 2007
Planning Application Submitted
The Malmesbury Town Hall refurbishment project has now begun in earnest. Following discussions with the planning and listed buildings departments at North Wiltshire District Council, a planning application was submitted on 31 January this year for the refurbishment of Malmesbury Town Hall.
Copies of the plans can be viewed at Monkton Park Chippenham, here on the website, or by in the foyer of the Town Hall.
01 July 2006
Town Hall Refurbishment sub-committee formed
The Malmesbury Town Council has appointed a group of Councillors and residents to a committee to advance the Town Hall Refurbishment Project. This committee is to be called the “Project Board” and has the responsibility of putting together the team of consultants to realise this big undertaking.
An architect was appointed in June this year, following a competition for the design. The winning practice is Taylor Seymour Architects, based in Oaksey who will develop the design, assist in the appointment of a structural engineer and a mechanical and electrical engineer and lead the planning and building regulations application processes
The Town Council has also appointed a project manager to oversee the whole project. |
