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james73 · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:07 pm Post subject: Public get say on new £1.3m hall

Public get say on new £1.3m hall (Evening Times)

A PUBLIC meeting will be held next week to tell Townhead residents about
plans to build a local community hall.

Last month, the group behind the community project was awarded
£68,000 of Lottery cash to help the scheme progress.

They now want to find out what local people want in the £1.36million
centre, which is earmarked for a site next to Glasgow's Taylor Place
tower blocks.

Alistair Thornley, who is acting as a consultant, said: "The project was
started by a group of residents who said they had nowhere to meet and
socialise which was pleasant, modern, safe and at the heart of the
community.

"The only hall they had was a rundown former Salvation Army hall across
a busy road, which was just not suitable."

Several ideas are being suggested for the new building, including a
meeting room, cafe, computer room, reading room and library.

There are also plans for a drop-in centre for young people and space for
access to job and money advice services. Extensive consultation was
carried out with the community and Mr Thornley said the point of the
meeting was to feed back the results.

He added: "The meeting will also provide an opportunity for the public to
ask questions and make their contributions about the activities they want
to see in the hall."

The group hopes planning permission will be granted early next year, with
building work starting in early summer and the centre opening in early
2010.

Anderston/City councillor Gordon Matheson said: "I've been working with
local residents since 1999 to build a new village hall in Townhead and our
efforts are paying off.

"The community has a shortage of facilities and Townhead Village Hall will
be a social centre managed by the community, a place for lifelong
learning and fitness."

Mr Matheson will chair the public meeting at 7pm next Wednesday in The
Martyrs Church, St Mungo's Avenue.

James H
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