Non-slip plan for local government gets a yes
Summary
Amid today’s topple at the top of UK politics, moves were afoot in the Forest of Dean to ensure local government remains on a sure footing. Planners have now approved a scheme for Newent which will ensure that a “rapidly decaying and structurally suspect timber staircase” that provides access for civic meetings will be replaced with something considerably more reliable.
Details
Neil Sapsed, Clerk of Newent Town Council, told Punchline-Gloucester.com that the backing for the scheme at Newent Town Hall was great news, with a meeting to be held this week where the tender process would be moved on for the work.
He said: “We don’t have a date as yet for when the work will begin, but the budget we have is for up to around £25,000 and once it is completed it will ensure we keep the space accessible – it should all tie in with new information boards and displays on the town’s history which will also be ready in the next few weeks.” Sitting in the Market Square of the Forest of Dean town, the postcard-pretty Grade II-listed Town Hall was built in 1668 by a Dutch builder and passed through various private hands until it was donated to the town early last century.
Soon after, the half-timbered building’s now-open lower level was enclosed to house the town’s fire engine. With this space now returned as a setting for regular markets and events, the upper rooms are now used as a heritage centre and as a meeting room for the Town Council and other civic bodies, the space now being ancillary to the Town Council’s main offices at the rear of the Community Centre on Ross Road.
A Design and Access statement from Cheltenham-based Chartered Surveyors and historic building specialists Arnold Bartosch Ltd shows that most evidence of historical work dated from 1864 when R.F. Onslow carried out extensive repairs to the building, with much structural timber, including the stairs, being replaced with pine.
Harvey Faulkner-Aston , the consultant, said: “The existing building remains generally in good order following the various recent repairs completed [under Arnold Bartosch’s direction] to maintain the fabric and structure.
The proposed work to replace the rapidly decaying and structurally suspect timber staircase will ensure the building can continue in use for, and be enjoyed by, future generations.” A proposed oak timber staircase will be constructed similarly to the existing (1990) installation, the surveyors said, “with improvements to the structural details and the inclusion of non-slip surfaces to the timber treads at construction stage rather than retro fitting”.
They added that the staircase will utilise the existing ground supports to minimise disturbance to the adjacent stone paved pavements while the height of the guarding will be increased to ensure compliance with current Building Regulations requirements. The report also shows that the work will take an estimated five days during, which the first-floor rooms will be inaccessible.
Report source: Punchline Gloucester