Friends meet again to talk ‘Dawley Town Hall’

The meeting will take place from 5pm at Dawley House, Burton Street, Dawley.

There has been a hive of activity since Telford & Wrekin Council and Dawley Regeneration Partnership put their heads together to think up ways of securing the future of this well known building.

Local people have had several opportunities to show their support and give their views on how the Town Hall could be brought back to life and used by the community. Recently the local community were asked to nominate their top three designs for the town hall logo as designed by local students from Phoenix School.

Several tidy up events have taken place with more being scheduled and the Facebook www.facebook.com/dawleytownhall and Twitter @frienddawleytownhall pages are growing ever more popular among local people who are having their say online about how they would like to see the building restored.

Those who have not registered an interest in becoming a Friend of Dawley Town Hall can still attend the meeting which will provide residents with an opportunity to learn how they might be able to help to bring the building back into the heart of the community.

Plans for the restoration have gained the support and financial backing of a total of £140,000 from organisations including Telford & Wrekin Council, Capgemini, Dawley Regeneration Partnership, Great Dawley Parish Council, Phoenix School and Telford College of Arts and Technology. The partnership is currently seeking additional funding via a lottery bid.

Paul Wolfe, local resident and chair of the partnership group, said: “A series of meetings have taken place so far and on the 16 May we will come together again to organise the groups constitution and chair, secretary and treasurer for the friends group. The support from local people and businesses has been overwhelming and working together we will be able secure Dawley Town Hall’s future.

“We are always on the look out for new friends and local businesses who could lend a helping hand, or those who can show their support in other ways.

Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member for Environment, Co-operative Council and Partnerships, said: “This project is all about working co-operatively with local people to celebrate our proud history and secure a bright future for Dawley Town Hall.

“The Friends of Dawley Town Hall is becoming an active group helping with fundraising, planning more activities to raise awareness and voicing their ideas of how we can move forward to bring the town hall back to life for all to enjoy."

“I would encourage anyone with a keen interest in this project to join us at the next Friends of Dawley Town Hall meeting on Wednesday evening.”

Those unable to attend the Friends of Dawley Town Hall meeting can still join Friends of Dawley Town Hall by contacting Telford & Wrekin Council's Priority Action Team: 01952 382131 or by emailing friendsofdawleytownhall@aol.com