The plan is to construct a small extension on the north side of the building across the passage at the top of the existing ramp, encompassing the fire exit door.
There will be a new door into a lobby at the top of the ramp, with options to proceed straight ahead to the new accessible WC or right into the hall in approximately the same place as the existing fire exit door.
The design is complicated by the often-conflicting requirements of accessibility, means of escape in case of fire, logistics inside the hall, minimising alterations to the existing building and security. The plan is to keep the hall functioning while the work is carried out by providing a temporary alternative means of escape.
Project Stage reached as at 01 Sept 2026:
The Building Regulations application has been submitted and the design is currently being discussed with AVBC Building Control.
A total of £6,063 has been raised towards the project and is held in a ‘restricted funds’ account.
A very approximate estimate of total funds required for the project is £30,000, inclusive of on costs.
As soon as the Planning Application has been submitted (proposals dependent on details to be agreed with Building Control) we will publish the drawings here. Then we will be launching a major fund raising appeal and applying to various potential funders.
Please bear with us while we go through this tortuous process – it has already taken a long time.
THANK YOU very very much to those who have already contributed so generously towards the fund. As well as helping to pay for the building work, the extent of these donations will stand us in good stead with potential funders: they will see that we have raised this substantial sum locally from people who hire, use and value the venue.
