Strong support for new life in a historic building

The feedback shows strong support for bringing the Old Town Hall back into use. Four in five people said it is very important to protect and reuse historic buildings.

Nine out of ten people said bringing the building back into use would improve the area. Almost half said it would help create a stronger sense of pride.

The building is widely seen as an important landmark and part of the historic heart of the town centre.

More than 80 per cent of residents would like to see it used as a heritage and history attraction. Businesses also supported ideas that work well with the Market Place, such as flexible market space, pop up stalls and a café.

People have suggested a range of uses including:

• Spaces for arts, crafts, classes and exhibitions.
• A base for local history tours, walks and events.
• A destination for people would visit and enjoy at weekends.

You can see more details of what people said in the research summary file below.