At the same full town council meeting on Thursday 17th August councillors also agreed to commission a building specialist, at a cost of up to £10,000, to conduct a building report of the Blue Pool site and Assembly Hall.
They wish to move plans forward after there was confusion from some councillors about why this had not already been done.
In June, the town council revealed they had the opportunity to acquire the Blue Pool site, which is currently owned by Wiltshire Council. At the time, this led to discussions on what could be done with the building, with the options including combining the site with the Assembly Hall or building something new to replace both sites. The Assembly Hall Working Group met in July to discuss a detailed plan for the site and reported that they were waiting for a report on the building condition and options from a specialist – which they believed the council was arranging.
However, at this month’s meeting it was revealed by town clerk, Linda Roberts, that she received no instruction from the council in June to engage a specialist and that Wiltshire Council had not written to the town council formally about them acquiring the Blue Pool site. She said, “Asset [Wiltshire Council’s asset team] have agreed to dispose of it, but they haven’t agreed who they are going to dispose it to.”
Wiltshire Council told Melksham News that they have had continual conversations with Melksham Town Council regarding options for the Blue Pool for a number of years.
Cllr Graham Ellis expressed disappointment that the specialist had not been instructed, following the meeting in June, given that it was his understanding that a full report was due to be reviewed by full council next month. Cllr Tom Price said, “Let’s put the official motion in now, then we have it.”
Councillors agreed to spend up to £10,000 for a structural engineer to look at the future feasibility of the Assembly Hall and Blue Pool site and to come back with findings as soon as possible.
