Buxton businessman reveals plans for Town Hall including library, museum and indoor market
A Buxton businessman who has lived in the town for more than a decade has a plan for the future of the town hall which would see it run as a charity by the people and for the people of Buxton.
Colin Mullins from Mullins Associates (Group) Limited has a vision for what the Grade II listed building, which was put on the market in April by High Peak Borough Council, could become.
Chatting to the Buxton Advertiser Colin said: “I have a whole plan worked out.
“But it would not be run by me as a private person, I would create charity and it would be run by a board of directors who all have Buxton at the heart of their decisions and what is right for the town and the people.”
Colin says he will be putting in a bid to the council and has outlined what he would do if he were to be successful.
He added: “The museum and the library would be moved in there with its own separate entrance round by The Slopes.
“I’ve already spoken to Derbyshire County Councillors who own and run the museum and they have given me their backing.
“I’d bring the market inside, this is Buxton where the market traders have to deal with cancellations because of high winds, bad rain and snow.
“If the market is indoors it would be on all the time which would be better for the traders and those who use it.
“But my absolute priority would be to sort the toilets out.
“I know many locals will not go into the town hall toilets as they are absolutely disgusting but for tourists, and we are a tourist town, we are offering those toilets to visitors.
“Fix the toilets, bring the museum and library in and then the market – those would be my immediate jobs.”
Colin says the building needs a lot of work and repairs and it does not work as a council office anymore.
“Something needs to be done but not selling it off to the highest bidder.
“I know I won’t be the highest bidder but I am also looking at this not just from an economic standpoint but how the town can still be involved and still keep the Town hall.
“I want to get the clock working again.
“The clock was donated to the people of Buxton and it’s not working “It’s things like that which really matter.
“I’d pay to get the clock working again before we tackled the bigger more expensive projects.
“And there will be work to do but I have a plan to make it carbon neutral and cut down on bills.
“If it can be done in Manchester, London and even Glossop why are we not doing it here in Buxton?”
Colin said he is so passionate about the town and seeing it improve.
“I don’t want our heritage carved up and sold off. We all need to play a part in keeping it.”
He says his long term vision would be to create a food hall where different food vendors have a space and there would be communal seating in the middle and the town hall becomes a destination venue.
“It’s a brilliant space which can and should have events, dances, be a Buxton Fringe venue and be used by everyone.”
He also wants to have independent traders in as well to create a business community but says some of the stalls would be free short term pop up stalls to give back to the community.
He said he was still waiting on reports from High Peak Borough Council about the structural side of the building but will be putting in a bid.
He added: “I hope the council can see my vision and how it will benefit the town in the long term.”
Landlord Ian Howarth who runs the Queens’s Head in Buxton added: “I believe Colin in the best hope to save the town hall from future developers.”