Maxi option Minimum option Middle option
Threlkeld Public Rooms were built in 1901 (for £417 with the farmers providing the stone and digging the foundations).
With some extensions to provide a kitchen (originally a Reading Room), toilets and storage, it has served the Village well.
However there are problems – particularly heating & dampness, toilets not up to modern standards, disabled access marginal, storage poor.
It has also been suggested that (a) there are not enough meeting spaces – even though the current ones are not fully utilised and (b) there is an opportunity for a full time cafe that would be profitable – though presumably that would require two full time employees - more if seven day opening is envisaged.
There are three possible developments (there may be more!) to revitalise Threlkeld Public Room.
One, the maxi option proposed by the Revtialisation Committee has had a lot of publicity and will cost around £1 million, would provide two extra meeting spaces including a cafe with superb views south. Amongst other "improvements" is the unfortunately significant reduction in parking spaces – essential for evening events in a rural area. Full details can be found at threlkeldweb.co.uk.
The other two options have not had a public airing – possibly because the promoters of the £1million project do not recognise the possible need for a “Plan B”. They are outlined below. They have not been costed, but are expected to cost about a tenth (for the minimum option) to half (for the middle option) of the publicised option.
Neither option has been detailed, but they are placed here to allow discussion.
Maxi option Minimum option Middle option top
This is simple and allows for some DIY work. There are five main features:
1 Strip off all outside render, and lime wash.
2 Strip off all inside plasterwork and panelling, and dry-line.
These two should deal with much of the damp problem.
3 Lower the main hall ceiling to window height and install ducting for warm air heating above.
This will have two effects.
(a) Improve the sound quality and
(b) heat the people using the building – quickly on entry – without trying to heat the structure.
For a building used mainly in the evening heating the structure is wasteful and expensive.
4 Move the entrance ramp to run alongside the south wall of the main hall, entering at the corner of the kitchen.
A small part of the kitchen would be lost, but most of the back hall would become available for much improved toilets.
5 Re-arrange the toilets, storage and back hall to provide better facilities including showers.
Maxi option Minimum option Middle option top
Initially this goes against the wishes of the village, as expressed in a questionnaire, not to knock down the building. However the end effect will be as if it had not been.
1 Knock down the building and the adjacent public toilets (which belong to Eden District Council but can be incorporated into the new building).
2 Rebuild on new modern foundations but at a lower level and retaining the appearance of the facade to the road.
So though the building is new, it looks like the old one.
3 The new foundations will be lower so that the entrance to be at the west end of the building is at street level at both the front and in the car park – so eliminating the need for a ramp.
4 The additional height gained (without increasing the building’s overall height) will allow space above the new ceiling for two low cost flats (one of which could be assigned to a caretaker). Grants may be available for this part of the cost.
5 Because the building will be designed from scratch (apart from the facade) there is far more scope for providing the facilities needed without significant change of footprint.
6 Among those facilities would be new public toilets with normal public access from the car park (as at present) but with a secure internal entrance available only to users of the building.
7 Because the structure will be modern, it will be much more economical to run.
Both the minimum and middle options will be able to take advantage of solar heating harvesting and electricity generation and of ground source heating.