Buyer and HPBC have ‘aligned vision’ for Buxton Town Hall sale
A charity which has been set up to purchase Buxton Town Hall for the community says meetings with the council have been positive and the two share an ‘aligned vision’ for the future.
Buxton businessman Colin Mullins has been in talks with High Peak Borough Council about purchasing the Grade II listed building on the Market Place.
Colin has held several positive meetings with the council over recent weeks and says discussions continue to move in the right direction.
He added: “We have aligned our vision, and the council seems happy with the proposals I have submitted which is great news.”
And while it is not a signed deal yet Colin says everything is moving in the right direction.
He said: “It’s a big old building that hasn’t been sold in this council’s lifetime, it's listed as well so that adds an extra layer of work.
“Nothing is agreed yet and it will take time but everything is looking so positive which is brilliant news for the town.”
Colin’s plan is to run the town hall as a charity with a board of trustees making decisions.
He said: “This is a town hall for all.
“For years people haven’t had access to this beautiful space but the plan is to open it up and create a place for the community to use.”
The proposal is to create a food hall, indoor artisan market and have space for leisure activities like escape rooms.
A nursery has also registered interest of being in the building.
Colin said: “The ballroom on the second floor we want to give back to the community and it to become a wedding venue, a place for parties, darts nights, knitting afternoons whatever the community wants it will be there for.”
The sale of the town hall also includes the 62-space car park which Colin says would remain as a car park although he does have a plan for the front of the town hall.
He said: “I want to move the toilets to the back by The Slopes, new loos that people want to use and would be well looked after.
“Then at the front convert some of the space into a restaurant like a steak house.
“We have so many great restaurants in Buxton like tapas and Indian and Italian but we don’t have a good steak place and I think that would be a great addition to the town.”
The current outdoor market in Buxton meets twice a week but in bad weather the traders are there but the customers may not be, he says.
“We are the highest market town in the country. Let's make more of a thing of that.
“The market stall holders would be welcomed with open arms into the town hall and then they have somewhere dry and comfortable to trade from.”
The new food hall would also be a great meeting and socialising venue, he said.
The feedback to these proposals has been well supported.
Colin said: “It seems everyone is behind us, we’ve done leaflet drops and stood outside the town hall - and the response has been phenomenal.
“People don’t want a beautiful piece of the town’s history falling into despair, they want to see it used and kept going for the next generations and that is exactly what we plan to do.”
Colin says as long as things progress as they are now with all parties agreeing he hopes to be opening the town hall as this new community backed venture as soon as possible.