Community invited to tell Forres Area Community Trust what is wanted at revamped Forres Town Hall

THE development group which completed a community asset transfer of Forres Town Hall from Moray Council in March, is asking what people would like to see there.

Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) is regenerating the town centre building with the help of user groups and individuals - an online survey is helping establish what activities will be on offer at the venue in the future.

A FACT spokesperson explained: “We want to know more about what the community needs now from the town hall. The regeneration proposal transforms it into multi-purpose flexible spaces for a wide range of activities and services. We’re keen to know how folk would like to see these spaces used and what the likely demand will be.”

Forres Town Hall has played a significant role in the community for nearly two centuries. It has had a variety of uses, including becoming the Mechanics’ Institute in 1845, which established a library for the working class, and as a hospital during World War I.

Since 2018, when FACT offered to take over the running of the building from Moray Council on behalf of the community, user groups including Forres and District Pipe Band, Varis Players, Film Forres and the Forres Royal Scottish Country Dance Society have continued using the space. FACT has also more than doubled occupancy with new groups such as Moray Food Plus and Guide Dog training. FACT also offers activities such as Forres Online drop-in sessions and the Cameron Project to reduce social isolation. The building provides a hub for FACT as the local community anchor organisation, providing consultancy, co-working space and community development opportunities.

However, the accommodation falls short of current standards in terms of building services, fabric insulation and accessibility.

As well as preserving the heritage value, FACT’s regeneration project will optimise the use and flexibility of the space, increasing accessibility, reducing the carbon footprint and making it fit for the 21st century.

Planned works are across three sections of the building going from the front façade on High Street to the area currently behind the stage off the main hall at the back of the building.

These plans will provide: a front section with foyer with direct access to an enlarged kitchen, lift access to upper areas/disabled refuge, additional toilets, an extra mezzanine floor, and a fully restored lesser hall; a centre section with a large multi-purpose performance space with retractable seating, enhanced with natural light and restoring original features; a rear section with three levels of flexible work space, balcony seats over the main hall, additional toilets and lift access/disabled refuge.

The FACT spokesperson added: “We have a comprehensive fundraising plan to raise the total project costs, estimated at approximately £3.4million.

“This will include making funding applications to a wide variety of grant funding bodies and trusts, such as for example, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and The Robertson Trust.”

Let FACT know how you would like to see a revamped Forres Town Hall used via https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ForresAreaCommunityTrustSurvey?fbclid=IwAR1oFj8_V-ZPWchlA8botyNZ4BINdZjGM8ont9OxwwUbAQka9lplafyflv8

The closing date for a response is Thursday, September 9.