Chris Perkins with the committee and notification that the Hall had been awarded a grant of £330,000 earlier this year. Picture by Colin Ross

Modernisation project get the go ahead
Ginette Harris reports

A modernisation project to bring the facilities at Mylor's Tremayne Hall into the 21st century has been given full approval of Carrick District Council.

Redundant outbuildings at the rear of the hall and existing toilets will be demolished and a new single storey extension provided with meeting, function and learning rooms.

In granting permission under delegation, head of development services Karl Roberts said: "The proposed extension would enhance this existing community facility and restore this historic building to its former self."

A fundraising campaign was launched last December for the £800,000 scheme to restore the whole building, which is due to be carried out in two phases.

In June the trustees received a grant of £333,900 from the Heritage lottery which has enabled the first phase to go ahead and tenders will be invited shortly.

Other grants and donations have also been received and local fundraising has made nearly £6,000.

The work will include replacing or repairing windows, re-pointing external walls and repairing and resetting the floor.

New toilets and baby changing facilities will be created.

Changes to the actual main building will be minimal, but the trustees believe the benefits to the community will be incredible and this will bring in more revenue to keep the hall functioning. The design statement to accompany the planning application said: "In recent years the hall has fallen into a bad state or repair and the existing sanitary facilities have become very dated and unable to satisfy current regulations.

"It is proposed to make Tremayne Hall a flexible building capable of providing a number of roles to a number of different user groups often simultaneously, while maintaining the character and deep history that the existing hall itself posesses."

It added: "To ensure that the maximum potential for the site is realised it is essential that the full space from the hall to the southeast corner is utilised.

"This means that the existing structures need to be demolished in this area. Any stonework will be re-used as much as possible."