Trust to Manage Skipton Town Hall

31/05/12 - A new trust is to be formed to manage Skipton Town Hall.

The Heritage Trust for the North West, a long established Building Preservation Trust with many contacts in the Craven area, will work in partnership with the Skipton Civic Society and Chrysalis Arts, an arts organization based in Gargrave and Skipton Town Council to establish the new trust.

The proposal has the full support of Craven District Council which met recently to agree the best way forward for the future management of the Town Hall. Council Members have asked a detailed business plan now be developed and presented to a meeting of the Councils' Policy Committee in September this year. Leader of Craven District Council Cllr Chris Knowles-Fitton said "We very much welcome the proposal from the Heritage Trust for the North West and their partners in establishing a new trust for Skipton Town Hall and believe it offers an excellent opportunity to restore the building to its former glory and ensure the Hall continues to provide a vibrant community facility for our residents"

Chief Executive of Heritage Trust for the North West, John Miller, said "we are delighted with the outcome. Skipton Town Hall is an iconic building of huge interest to the Town. Under the management of a Trust there will be tremendous scope to develop community partnerships and initiatives to ensure this building, now about to celebrate its 150^th Anniversary, has a viable future."

Skipton Town Council who are keen to see the Town Hall developed, and are aiming to move their offices into the building, are also key partners and Dave Parker, Chief Officer of Skipton Town Council, said: "The Trust route has been the Town Council's preferred option for the last couple of years and we are delighted that Heritage Trust North West are prepared to take on the Town Hall, which is such an important building to the people of Skipton. We are very much looking forward to playing a very active role in the development of both the Trust and the future of the building itself."

Rick Faulkner said "Chrysalis Arts are looking forward to working in partnership with Heritage Trust North West not only to restore this historic building but to make it fit for 21st century use by the people of Skipton and Craven."

Executive member Susan Wrathmell said: ' a founding aim of Skipton Civic Society is to secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest in the town.  For over two years the Society has promoted the formation of a Trust to give Skipton a Town Hall to be proud of and we look forward to working with the Heritage Trust for the North West to give this historic building a new future'.

• Page last updated: 06 June 2012

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