Long-term Arts Centre plan acceptable to stallholders

Press, 28 June 1989, Page 9

Long-term Arts Centre plan acceptable to stallholders

By

JENNY LONG

Arts Centre stallholders would be happy to move from their present site once a new and pleasing site was established, according to the landscape architect retained by the stallholders. Mr John Morton told an Arts Centre Trust Board meeting that stallholders accepted the long-term plan, which would see them moving to a redeveloped area on the corner of Worcester Street and Montreal Street.

The long-term redevelopment includes the replacement of the building occupied by Family Planning, and the removal of prefabricated buildings. In the short term they are still not happy to be moved. The chairman of

the Market Stallholders Committee, Mr Paul Sanderson, suggested that a sub-committee of board members and landscape architects should be set up to work with the stallholders. “Until we are offered an alternative site with the same quality of space as the quads, we wish to remain in our present site.

“Before a proposal is accepted, which affects the livelihoods of so many people, proper analytical studies must be made and the trust board able to make a competent decision.”

The board meeting yesterday was to give members and city councillors the opportunity to hear a range of views on the Arts

proposals.

Centre redevelopment proposals. The board had commissioned two plans from Boffa Miskell Partners, Ltd, on the redevelopment. The second has been widely criticised by the stallholders, because it proposes that they move from the North Quadrangle. Removing the stallholders would allow the green space of the north end to complement the architectural style. The north end could then be further developed as a cultural area, allowing for more performances in the Great Hall, for example. A spokesperson for Boffa Miskell said the east end was under used. The arts centre direc-

tor, Mr Geoff Ellis, said the proposal from Boffa Miskell would generate revenue, and attract and entertain visitors.

“It offers a plan embracing the entire city block, and allowing for continued development in future years.” Other groups at yesterday’s meeting were the Institute of Architects, representatives of landscape architects, the Conservation Department, the inner city development group, ICON, and the Civic Trust. The chairwoman of the board, Mrs Helen Holmes, said at the end of the meeting that it was clear that the board still had much work to do before final decisions could be reached.