Plans for a new extension to Helensburgh’s Victoria Halls have been unveiled – amid concern over current storage arrangements at the popular venue.
And measures are also being proposed to stop young people gathering around the halls’ storage containers who have left club members afraid to use them at night.
A report submitted to Argyll and Bute Council by applicant Live Argyll, the charitable trust which runs the area’s council-owned leisure centres, libraries and halls, says it “cannot be overstated” that two key issues must be addressed to allow the hall to continue to function and sustain commercial success.
It adds that efforts must be made to ensure adequate storage provision and address the restricted capacity of the main hall.
Also highlighted in the report is the issue of young people using the area as a shortcut to Hermitage Park – with graffiti and debris widespread.
Live Argyll has now submitted plans to the council, designed by Glasgow-based CMM Architects. A decision from the council is expected by late January.
A planning and design statement says: “The Victoria Halls need a storage building to replace the shipping containers currently situated to the rear of the building.
“Storage needs were identified for theatre groups, the art club and the horticultural society, as well as the hall’s own storage requirements.
“Currently the hall stores chairs and other equipment throughout the building which could be freed up for other uses.
“Some of the current storage arrangements raise serious health and safety concerns.
“A storage requirement of about 165 square metres – 600 cubic metres – was identified. This would have to be located at the rear of the halls.
“Alternative means of connecting to the halls were considered. Eventually a connection into the harled later extensions was considered as the most appropriate with the demolition of the former chair store, which is severely dilapidated.”
The report continued that there is a stage level door to the stage wing, meaning that connecting the proposed new theatre storage directly to the stage would be possible.
A scissor table lift is provided to ensure access to the stage. The proposed storage building would allow for the storage of theatre flats which is described as “a major stage management issue.”
It is also felt that providing backstage support will increase the attractiveness of the venue for touring shows and musicals.
The report also addressed security, saying: “Presently the hall has a problem of young people using the route down the south elevation of the building as a shortcut to the park and gathering around the containers.
“There is graffiti and debris around this area and police have frequently been required to disperse antisocial groups.
“Because of this, some club members have been wary of using the storage containers in the evening.
“To prevent such gatherings a gate is proposed at the start of the route. As part of the escape strategy this will require a push pad release on the inside.
“At the rear, the wall of the storage building is continued to the southern boundary with a solid gate completing the containment. PIR [security] lighting and CCTV will be provided in these areas.”
Alison Holliman, chair of Helensburgh Theatre Arts, gave her backing to the plans for an extension to be built.
She said: “We have had no health and safety concerns with our container at the back of Victoria Halls. Yes, there has been some graffiti, but that is all.
“There is no external lighting there. We do use the container after dark.
“We have had regular meetings with all the concerned parties to ensure the design of the new building and its internal layout are tailored to our requirements.
“Live Argyll’s report stresses the lack of storage and we are one of the groups that is in need of extra space to put the staging and props used in our annual pantomime.
“This is an important community project with several local groups coming together , with Live Argyll, to solve a mutual problem.”
The applicaiton is on the council’s website – the reference number is 19/02474/PP
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