Ware Online Community Forum

The Masked Woler wrote:

Damo5 wrote:

adam_thomas wrote:It's already for sale, via Derrick Wade Waters.

The listing is for the whole building, including the Arts Centre , presumably as a sitting tenant, as a Development/ Investment Opportunity.

Good to see Council disposing of another community asset in Ware as quickly as possible with no consideration to how it might be used for the benefit of the community.

Have the Council disposed of any other community "assets"? In any case it was a pub does that count?

The problem with these buildings (Musley included) is that they are not assets, they are huge liabilities. The cost of renovation and running is massive and far more than any community use will cover. You also have to have trustees who will run the place (and take responsibility which makes most run for cover). To run this for functions would require a licence (in someone's name), catering and staff with all that goes with that.

Conversion to homes is just about the only way that these types of buildings will be preserved for the future.

Conversion can be the best solution, however no alternative options have been explored!
There are all kinds of community buildings around the country, that committed local groups have successfully run - and yes finding those trustees can be an issue - but there has been no time for any local group or body to do anything

I've heard back from the agents.

It's on the Market for £650,000 exclusive of VAT.

I'll check, but don't think I have enough money.

Given there have only been a couple of people interested in even considering forming a community group - does this mean there isn't any interest in obtaining the building for community use?

It's too easy to point out the problems and reasons for not doing something. Be brave and suggest something positive for a change.

"Community use" meaning what exactly, by whom.

Would this venue offer something not already available? We already know the other venues are under used and have seen the moaning over Fletcher's Lea which was built before the demand slumped.

Musley closed because it was too expensive to keep open - there's a clue there somewhere.

Craig wrote:Be brave and suggest something positive for a change...

Wow. That was you being positive was it? Hate to hear your negative suggestions.
It's so easy to dimiss any new idea before it starts isn't it.

I echo - Be brave and suggest something positive for a change.

How about this for a community use...
As the Arts Centre is already in one part of the building how about turning it into a Community Theatre and Arts Complex.
Where the bar is could be turned into a 70 seat studio theatre, smaller than the Theatre in Hertford so more accessible to local groups and smaller productions.
The storage area on the end could be converted in to new media studios, aimed primarily at yound adults with the Arts Centre continuing to offer its existing range of activities and provide an anchor for the whole facility.
As for the upstairs that would be left to operate as a space for hire, available to community groups in the week and for 'paying' functions at weekends, helping to provide on-going funding for the complex.

Damo5 wrote:How about this for a community use...
As the Arts Centre is already in one part of the building how about turning it into a Community Theatre and Arts Complex.
Where the bar is could be turned into a 70 seat studio theatre, smaller than the Theatre in Hertford so more accessible to local groups and smaller productions.
The storage area on the end could be converted in to new media studios, aimed primarily at yound adults with the Arts Centre continuing to offer its existing range of activities and provide an anchor for the whole facility.
As for the upstairs that would be left to operate as a space for hire, available to community groups in the week and for 'paying' functions at weekends, helping to provide on-going funding for the complex.

Nice idea. Now turn it in to a business plan.

Steve wrote:

Damo5 wrote:How about this for a community use...
As the Arts Centre is already in one part of the building how about turning it into a Community Theatre and Arts Complex.
Where the bar is could be turned into a 70 seat studio theatre, smaller than the Theatre in Hertford so more accessible to local groups and smaller productions.
The storage area on the end could be converted in to new media studios, aimed primarily at yound adults with the Arts Centre continuing to offer its existing range of activities and provide an anchor for the whole facility.
As for the upstairs that would be left to operate as a space for hire, available to community groups in the week and for 'paying' functions at weekends, helping to provide on-going funding for the complex.

Nice idea. Now turn it in to a business plan.

How about if we see if people warm to the concept, and then we can work on a business plan.

Steve wrote:Nice idea. Now turn it in to a business plan.

Yup, that's the tricky bit - can you put together a plan that demonstrates sufficient sustainable income to pay off borrowings of £650 purchase plus £200k-£1m of fitting/refurbishment (I have no idea what it would cost to convert suitably), along with staff bills (conservatively £100k pa) plus utility bills/insurance/rates/promotion?

How many prospective organisations are there willing/able to pay sufficiently for the facilities, and what's the potential audience figures?

It's a tough environment out there, and hard to make live entertainment pay in the provinces.

Not to say it can't be done, though, and I'd love it if it did...

At this very early stage - I'm gauging interest to see who wants to try to do something, if anything at all.
If people are interested in sitting round a table and throwing a few ideas around, great - but we do need some positive people to come along.
I bothers me that people take delight in shouting down 'any' idea before it's even been born. It's like there is a competition to see who can be first to find the flaw in anything suggested.
Anyone care to come along for a beer and throw some ideas around?

Damo5 wrote:How about this for a community use...
As the Arts Centre is already in one part of the building how about turning it into a Community Theatre and Arts Complex.

This is exactly what Ware Arts Centre were planning 35 years ago. Despite their best attempts they realised that the figures would just not add up, which is why they only occupy the end of the building.