Frome Town Hall officially opens on 1st April, and tenants are holding an open day for the public to have a look around the building including the grand Council Chamber.
Frome Town Council, WHY (We Hear You), Frome FM, Active and in Touch and Fair Frome are all based at the building. The Council Chamber and two meeting rooms will be available for hire.
The open day starts at 2pm and ends at 4pm. Anyone who is interested in seeing what the building has to offer and how it has been restored to its former glory is very welcome. Complimentary refreshments will be served and councillors, WHY, Frome FM, Fair Frome, Volunteer Frome along with council staff will be on hand to answer questions. All ages are welcome.
Cllr Toby Eliot, Mayor of Frome said, “This is a great day for Frome, we have finally got our town hall back. On behalf of the community we have invested in bringing it up to date and can now host community meetings, events and a home to local groups in the town.
“More than anything else though, this building belongs to the community and while there is no threat of losing it again, I want to encourage as many people as possible to think of it as theirs and to use it. Everyone is welcome to come and have a look around on 1st April – see you then.”
Frome town council will also be showing off their new smoothie bike.
Sustainability Officer Cara Naden said, “This is a fantastic chance for the people of Frome to come and have a go at a spot of healthy peddled powered fun! We hope that both the building and the smoothie bike will be both prove to be an excellent asset to the town.”
Face painters and balloon modelers will be in attendance and there will be an opportunity to view and buy the book especially commissioned for the occasion, Frome Town Hall. Lorraine Johnson local historian and the author of the book will be on hand to sign copies and discuss some of the stories about the uses of the building in the past and some of the characters that have inhabited the building.
Frome Heritage Museum have donated some of the images from the book to help form the first display on the new exhibition boards. The display is dedicated to moving forward with due respect and recognition for the past. This space will become a place where organisations, artists and community groups can create and curate their own exhibitions.
There has been some criticism of the cost of the Town Hall however Mel Usher, Leader of the Council confirmed that it made financial sense: “The sale price of the Palmer Street offices was £340k which is £65k more than the Council bought Frome Town Hall for. Palmer Street was in poor repair, held up by acrow props and in need of complete refurbishment, already too small for the existing purpose.”
Mel continues, “Selling the Palmer Street offices was the last part of the relocation project. As well as new office space for the officers we have two have two fully equipped meeting rooms and a wonderful Chamber – a resource for the whole community as a place to hold meetings, parties and weddings.”
