Have your say

Send us your point of view and we will publish it here and provide a response whether it supports the campaign or not

Email your point of view, name and the town/village where you live it to : Campaign@savehorshamtownhall.co.uk and we will display it on this page.

(Please note we will delete your email address as soon as your message is displayed on this page)

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David Brooks, Horsham :

I’m scared to say that the council’s idea to turn our Town Hall into a restaurant is completely bonkers because if I did I think the council would thus prove their incompetence by issuing me personally with a special award for stating the obvious.

The building was gifted to the people of Horsham by the Duke of Norfolk in 1812 and remains OUR Town Hall, our community building, our iconic building and is of such importance to the people of Horsham (and indeed the council) that it is our towns logo.

The conduct of Horsham Council has been deplorable. They have bent the rules to such an extent the District Auditor can hardly keep up, and they have manipulated the figures beyond belief.

Many people in Horsham don’t realise they already pay a stealth tax in addition to their rates which is called the ‘Special Charge’. This money seems to a large extent to be absorbed by the council and possibly not spent in areas for which it was attended, such as the Town Hall.

If the building is kept for community use it may cost the local rate payer as little as exactly NOTHING. We have been advised by the Chief Executive of the society for charity and Voluntary Organisations that there are several sources of considerable funding available for the restoration, improvement, and maintenance of the building.

Most people in the town have no idea that there is an excellent and very large additional hall upstairs which is not used due to council incompetence. Or that in the main hall the acoustics are exceptional for soloists, bands, orchestras or acting groups. This is irreplaceable and to destroy it would be criminal.

Historically it is of not just local or national importance, but of world wide interest and importance. It was here that in the late 1940’s John Haigh the Acid Bath Murderer was tried here and held in the within the cells in the basement of the Town Hall.

The situation here in Horsham must be taken very seriously and is of national importance. If other councils around the country follow suit we could soon see hundreds of town of village halls rented out as MOT testing stations, coffee shops estate agents or what ever else.

If central government get hold of the idea this could soon become a bigger scandal than the selling off of school playing fields. Before we know it they could let St Paul’s Cathedral to Greggs Bakery. The cartoon on the front of every paper in the land would have two politicians looking at each other and one asking ‘Is it my turn to get a sticky bun today?’.

Despite us having a Tory Council we have support from our local Tory MP Francis Maude, from Henry Smith the leader of West Sussex County Council, both of our local papers the West Sussex County Times and the Resident. At a meeting partly chaired by the Council I asked if anyone supported the Councils decision to turn our Town Hall into a restaurant and only one lady sheepishly raised her hand to shoulder height, thus proving that about 98% of people present were against the idea.
We need to stop this NOW before we are left asking not just why?, but HOW?

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Kathy Taylor , Horsham :

I am the branch manager of Leaders the Rental Agents and our office is located directly opposite the old town hall. I am very much in favour of Bills Produce Store moving in. It would breathe life into Market Square as well as bringing extra footfall and business into the town centre; customers travel miles to visit Bills stores. Yes, other premises in Horsham have been suggested for the store however surely “Market” square, as its name would suggest, deserves a vibrant, bustling market atmosphere which is exactly what Bills would bring; brightly coloured market stalls with locally produced vegetables and produce, the hustle and bustle that only a highly successful brand such as Bills can offer?

Look at the wider picture; Market Square needs something and the old town hall is not doing anything for us at the moment, Lady Fayre is closing down, number 19 is derelict, the weekly market here stopped years ago…. Keeping hold of the town hall for the occasional flea-market or for the use of its stuffy meeting rooms is ridiculous and cannot be justified despite its historical background and a very small minority group who is opposing the change. Let’s move on and look forwards not backwards. The future success of the town depends on progress, change and moving with the times.

Response from 'Save Horsham Old Town Hall' campaign :

Thank you for sharing your point of view. At the campaign we see progress and change going hand in hand with diversity and fulfilling community needs. Creating yet another restaurant in Horsham when we are already over run with them does not seem to make sense. At the same time we do need community space and aim to provide a vibrant and bustling atmosphere within the market square by attracting all types of people from in and around Horsham to use and attend whatever productions, concerts and events are being hosted within this venue. Support from the people of Horsham has shown us that its not just a minority group who also believe in this view. I see no reason why we should not be able to keep the Town Hall alive for all to enjoy and still bring life back to the market square.

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