LOCAL residents could be called upon to support a major fundraising effort if grant applications fail to produce the money needed to secure the long-term future of one of AltonÕs most cherished listed buildings.
While a working party has been reconvened to draw up a priority listing for work necessary to propel Alton Assembly Rooms into the 21st century, members are all too aware that securing a grant is not as simple as it may appear.
Proposals drawn up in 1998 to improve the Crown Hill building failed when an application for Heritage Lottery funding fell through because it did not meet conservation requirements and had not been heritage led.
While believing that the building, which is deteriorating, should be eligible for some form of assistance, this time round Alton Town Council is planning to be more realistic in its aims, seeking to prioritise the work and redefine its objectives.
According to town clerk Steven Parkinson, one of the biggest concerns over the next five years will be to replace the roof but, with a maintenance budget of just £3,000 a year for the next three years and a mere £30,000 allocated in the capital budget which would be swallowed up simply in replacing the toilets, finance is a major factor.
Added to which, a meeting with members of Alton Operatic and Dramatic Society - major users of the premises, had revealed major concerns over poor seating. The call is for comfortable, tiered seating, a project which would throw up its own problems such as a reduction in the number of seats which could be fitted into the main hall, and the effect of the seating on the sprung floor.
In addition, there is a pressing need to improve the kitchen and toilet facilities.
In fact, according to government legislation, the toilets will have to be refurbished by 2004 to facilitate disabled access.
On the question of disabled access to the building in general, which also needs to be improved, Mr Parkinson pointed out that it would not be necessary, as had first been thought, to install a £100,000 lift to provide access to the first floor.
The challenge, he said, was to provide disabled access to the main facilities which were all at ground floor level.
However, the intention was to look further into this aspect of any refurbishment scheme.
While the commissioning of a professional disabled access survey would be expensive at around £3,000, it was agreed to take up a suggestion made by Hampshire County CouncilÕs access officer to consult a local access group who, while not providing a written report, would be able to give advice on disability issues.
The aim would be to commission a professional survey if and when a genuine funding opportunity presented itself.