Slow progress on hall work
District councillors are to continue with plans to bring back into use the Tudor Hall and Old Magnus Buildings in Newark despite losing out on a Lottery bid.
Mr Tony Roberts, the leader of the district council, said the council remained committed to seeing the project through, but it would be “slower than intended.”
Councillors were disappointed the Heritage Lottery Fund rejected an application for £31/2m.
Mr Roberts, the leader of the district council, blamed the bid’s failure on the cost of the 2012 Olympics.
He said: “It’s a pity that the government has decided that all those who play the Lottery should also fund the Olympics,”
The head of leisure, Mrs Sarah Dawes, said the Heritage Lottery people had asked for another meeting with the council over the project, so there remained the hope of acceptance later.
It was decided the council would carry on with the project in the meantime as and when it could afford it.
The district council bought the Tudor Hall and Old Magnus Buildings on Appletongate from the county council for a peppercorn sum in 2004.
The museum, which was housed there, closed later that year and the buildings have been empty ever since.
It was estimated that £430,000 was needed for urgent repairs to the roof and the electrics and heating.
It was decided in July, 2005, that a redevelopment scheme should begin, which would be a mixture of cultural, commercial and community use.
The Tudor Hall dates back to 1529 and is listed for protection.
There is a later Georgian mansion attached. The mansion was part of the original Magnus Grammar School until 1910.
The neighbouring Palace Theatre was added to the overall project so that youth and community productions and rehearsals could take place at the Old Magnus site.
Other ideas that were approved were for refurbishing of the backstage areas of The Palace, developing touring programmes for performances and exhibitions, a café and bar and musical instrument-making.
The cost of doing all this was estimated at £4,750,000 which included the repairs.
An application for £3.5m was submitted to the Lottery with the rest sourced from elsewhere, but the bid failed.
Money held in council accounts for the scheme will be retained, it was agreed by councillors.
