Plans For The New Culture Centre In The Town

Plans for the new Culture Centre in the town of Conwy will be on public display later this month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project aims to build an area library for Conwy, Deganwy and Llandudno Junction, a home for our archive and museum collections, a café and space for community, art and youth activities on the site of the old Bodlondeb School on Bangor Road, with a planning application due to be submitted before the end of the year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The centre is intended as a community heritage hub where visitors will be able to research their ancestry and enjoy historical workshops, exhibitions and events and be signposted to the many other sites of historical interest throughout Conwy County Borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The development phase of the project has been funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Schools, youth groups, existing customers and potential users have been consulted as part of the initial process. They identified the Culture Centre as a site for opportunities for family history research, archaeology, photography and contributing to exhibitions. Young people we asked were interested in being able to take part in art projects. Adults would like to learn about, handle and work with historic collections and would like to see family friendly events and activities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The plans, which include disabled parking, will now go on public view at Conwy Library. The new building is set to replace Conwy’s Castle Street building, as well as the present archive building in Lloyd Street, Llandudno. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Chris Hughes, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “This is an exciting project for Conwy and the area, so it’s important as many people view these plans as possible. The centre will be a cultural hub, which adds to the tourist destinations in Conwy. People living in Conwy and people visiting will be able to explore and investigate what role their ancestors had in the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’d encourage as many people to view these plans and welcome as much community involvement as possible. We need to make sure we get this right. The centre is a really important facility for local people and visitors alike.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Despite the old Bodlondeb school being of Victorian origin, it is not considered to be architecturally valuable. It’s hoped the new low-lying building will offer a more elegant and pleasing aesthetic, blending better with the surrounding Bodlondeb Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The centre will include a community wing with a café, exhibition space and meeting rooms which will be available for hire. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council’s project team is now revisiting the building designs and taking view of public opinion. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There will be an opportunity to view the final draft of the designs at a drop-in session at Conwy library on Tuesday, 18th October from 10am – 8pm where staff will be on hand to answer any queries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The designs and draft planning application will then be available to view at Conwy Library from 1st to 29th November, and at www.conwy.gov.uk/culturecentre ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The planning application will be submitted to Conwy Planning Authority before the end of the year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​