Friends of the Old Library

Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Does anybody have the gen on what is proposed for the 'new' library - beyond platitudes that Wolverhampton University will no doubt devote all their time 'n' energy on it?

Probably.

Will we be wondering what is to become of it - in its own thread thankyouplease @Admin - in another X years time?
 
Wormella

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
[B said:
Friends of the Old Library[/B]]
Today Merv and myself went to see a solicitor called Rhiannon Jones to get the 6 month lease contract signed. It has now been enveloped, stamped, and sent on its way back to Scotland, where the firm of lawyers who drew it up are based.

The Old Library Trust are one step closer to getting the keys to take residency in the Old Library.

I cant describe the overwhelming mixture of emotions. This campaign is really moving. It feels like it is meant to be.

Over the last few years I have heard so many people saying that we need an Arts Centre in Stafford. There is massive support for the project locally at every level.

Of course there is plenty of time for us to fail, there is nothing guaranteed, but who knows, maybe, just maybe, we will succeed, and if we do, it will hugely benefit Stafford people in terms of having access to all of the arts, whether music, drama, dance, crafts, or the visual arts, as well as giving us a venue to display and learn about our heritage.

More news to come soon.
Click to expand...

The Facebook Page is excellent for keeping people updated with news
 
Floss

Floss

Well-Known Forumite
What exactly are they planning to do with place in terms of an Arts centre don't we already have Gainsborough Art centre?
 
Wormella

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
Floss67 said:
What exactly are they planning to do with place in terms of an Arts centre don't we already have Gainsborough Art centre?
Click to expand...

Can't we have 2? It's much more if a contained unit, bigger central space, indoors etc. GAW is a bit more out of the way, smaller collection of rooms and more 'industrial'.
 
Floss

Floss

Well-Known Forumite
Wormella said:
Can't we have 2? It's much more if a contained unit, bigger central space, indoors etc. GAW is a bit more out of the way, smaller collection of rooms and more 'industrial'.
Click to expand...

There can be as many as you like I just wasn't sure what the 'new' art centre would offer I've not been to Gainsborough I keep meaning to but I'm usually all Arted out by the end of the day.
 
G

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
It has been up for rent for years.

it was millar sandy who leased to the people who were going create a world buffet restaurant, plans were actually very good.

that was until the tax man caught up with these new folk- allegedly- and they had issues with other businesses in Wolverhampton and Brum.

it went back up for rent about 1 year ago and millar sandy replaced their brown for rent signs with 2 lovely green ones, roughly around the same that time friends of the library started.
a lot work to do that place and quite sizeable. Feel it will be along empty I feel
 
joshua

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
Old Stafford Library facing new future as theatre and gallery
Stafford | Staffordshire entertainment | Published: 2 hours ago | Last Updated: Less than an hour ago

A historic library building could be transformed into a theatre and gallery, under new plans.



The Grade II listed Old Stafford Library – which is on the Victorian Society’s Top Ten Endangered Buildings list – had recently been on the market with a price tag of £750,000.

But it was recently taken off the market by its owner in an attempt to raise hopes of a rescue.

Now, a business plan has been drawn up by the Stafford Old Library Trust (SOLT) which describes how different areas of the Carnegie Library at The Green, next to the cinema, can be utilised into a theatre, a performance cafe, gallery space, and workshop space.

The trust – which has a 'reasonable bid' rejected for the building – hopes that that there may soon be an opportunity to finally agree a purchase price now it is off the market.

Nicky Barron from the trust, said: "There is a lot of work still to do and much is at stake. Trustees ran tours of the Old Library last year for six months and the condition insight is in a state of worrying disrepair.

"This is a very slow and often uphill struggle. We have had to be extremely patient, waiting for an opportunity to act positively to rescue the Old Library, and we hope that the opportunity might come along before too long."

"Through raising public funds, and working towards long term sustainability a charity such as SOLT could bring the building to a state of good repair and into use for the benefit of the public, providing Stafford with a much needed arts and cultural centre."

Partly funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and opened in 1903, the building, off Lichfield Road, served as Stafford’s library until it closed in 1998. It was sold to a private investment fund and an investor by Staffordshire County Council in 2012.


The trust, which gained charity status in 2015, has been raising awareness about the plight of the Old Library for two years now.

The charity is now now taking pledges from people in an attempt to raise essential funds to start the project rolling, and also demonstrate the commitment of the town to the reclamation and restoration of this important heritage building.

SOLT believes that the building should be bought back into the public sector, restored, and developed as a cultural and arts centre for Stafford.

Stafford Old Library Trust (SOLT) is to hold its second meeting on June 1 at 6.30pm in Stafford Baptist Church, which is located behind the old Carnegie Library.




Staffordshire entertainment Entertainment Attractions Stafford Staffordshire Local Hubs News
https%3a%2f%2farc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-expressandstar-mna.s3.amazonaws.com%2fpublic%2f2UBPVATPQNGUTMRXMGFTL4PQ4E

By Tom Oakley
Trainee Multi-Media Journalist

Reporter covering the areas of Staffordshire/Walsall and responsible for the Stafford & Stone weekly edition. Came through the Express & Star apprenticeship scheme.

https://www.expressandstar.com/news...ary-facing-new-future-as-theatre-and-gallery/
 
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