After lengthy discussions and consultations, we are now delighted to announce that The Glossopdale Trust has been named as the preferred partner to work with High Peak Borough Council to bring Glossop Town Hall, Market Hall and the Municipal Buildings into community ownership, creating a vibrant heart for the town.
The Glossopdale Trust is a Social Enterprise with an open membership policy that was set up in 2012 with the objective of:
“Supporting the economic development of Glossop
through the promotion of music and the arts”
It was quickly identified that one issue was that Glossop lacked a central focal point, and that the Public Halls complex presented an ideal opportunity to create this. It was this thinking that led the Trust to open discussions with HPBC about a possible future for the halls.
The Trust has a vision that the halls will become:
“A NEW CULTURAL & COMMERCIAL CENTRE FOR GLOSSOP – OWNED AND MANAGED BY AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY OF GLOSSOPDALE! NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.”
The decision by the Council to partner with the Trust brings this vision a step closer to reality.
The next step is to look at funding options for the project and, with this in mind, we have created a joint project board comprising key members of the Trust working alongside HPBC to develop a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, and to explore other avenues for funding the project.
“These buildings are in desperate need of development, and we are keen to work with the community, and with current occupants to create a facility that benefits both them and the wider community of Glossop”, explains Duncan Wright, Chair of the Glossopdale Trust. “Our vision is to exploit the commercial opportunities presented by the Municipal Buildings and to work with the current occupants in the market to create a vibrant retail destination, integrating arts and crafts into an expanded high quality market, owned and run by the traders. We can then utilise the economic benefits realised by this plan to support the less commercially orientated community aspects of the complex.
The final part of the plan is to develop the currently derelict Town Hall into a modern, inviting community space that can be used for a wide variety of activities including music and drama performances, exhibitions, weddings, parties and other community events.”
The Trust is keen to engage with all members of the Glossop community on this project and anyone interested in getting involved, or wanting further information on the Trust’s plans for the Glossop Halls can contact The Glossopdale Trust via the website www.glossopdaletrust.org or email Duncan personally on duncan@glossopdaletrust.org.