News from the Shire Hall

As I write on behalf of the Shire Hall Project Group, the scaffolding is being unloaded into the compound at the Shire Hall, so before long it should be soaring up into the blue yonder.  It has taken a while to find a design for the scaffolding that does the job, but that doesn't damage the stone work or totally obliterate access to some local businesses. As always, it has been about finding a balance, and this takes some time.

I think we are all going to be surprised about how high the scaffolding will go.    I had imagined that it would go up to the top of the pediment, forgetting that it has to provide complete access for the roof repairs, good thing that it is going to be shrouded in something interesting, rather than just orange netting.  Preparations are well in hand for the interesting competition, puzzle, graphic covered shroud, which will be put up by the scaffolders when all of the scaffolding is up and secure.  This is obviously going to take a little time.

I mentioned the project group and you may wonder who and what this is?

The project director and the project manager from Monmouthshire County Council are there, as are representatives of the town council, and the Shire Hall Stewards. The team is made up by the area working team from the one stop shop, and also a member of MCC communications team. Our particular job as a project team is to make sure that the interests of the town are represented in this important project, and that the town is kept informed of progress on the project.

We are also very involved in how the building will be used, and how it will be managed when this is all finished. Our job is not to run the project, our expert project manager, Keith Davies, is fully in charge of that, working to the project director who is also the MCC Head of Asset Management. The whole project answers to a project board who oversee the financial management and development of the contract. The Town council is also represented on that Executive board along with the appropriate County Councillors and Officers.

The Shire Hall Stewards have done a grand job in keeping this project on the boil, and they are still busy fund raising for their contribution to the project fund. If you were lucky enough to get to their fashion show last Friday you will know it was a great success, look out for their next event, it is bound to be a good one. The Shire Hall Stewards are also available to come and talk to local groups about the project, if you are interested, you can contact them through the one stop shop, tel. 01600 710610.

The Stewards are very interested in attracting new members. They know that their role as watchful friends of the Shire Hall will always be an important one, and they will have crucial role to play when the Hall comes back to life after its restoration. Again, you can contact them through the one stop shop if you don't know any of their members.

We are also planning a real proper newsletter to add to this rather brief blog. These will be available from various places in town, and we will also be sending them to everybody we can think of. In the future, when work gets going, we hope to be able to show some pictures of the work on the fabric of the building. The computer shop in Beaufort Square has also offered to show some pictorial record of on going work.

So here we are, the real and visible work is obviously starting, watch this space for more news on the project and for the future plans to use the Shire Hall as the true heart of the town.

Jenny