ABC Council is to replace the heating system – described by one local councillor as “knackered” – at Portadown’s historic Town Hall.
And there has been support too by some for “more investment” to follow on the Edward Street edifice, styled as a ‘beacon of culture and entertainment’ and used for public performances and community events.
Two separate applications – one for planning approval and the other for listed building consent – were passed at January’s planning committee.
Senior planning officer Nicola Creaney said the applications were being presented to committee as the Town Hall – built in 1890 – was a “council-owned and managed building”.
She said there were no third party objections, nor any from any of the consultees, including NI Water, Historic Environment Division, Historic Buildings, Environmental Health and NIE.
Ms Creaney, speaking at committee, explained that it was a listed building and this was “really considered minor works”.
She added: “There’s no impact on the listed building, impact on amenity, townscape character or infrastructure requirements. The proposal complies with all relevant planning policies.”
The works will see the removal of the existing oil-fired boiler plant and enclosure, with two mains gas boilers positioned at two separate locations within Portadown Town Hall. These will be within the existing ground floor boiler room, and existing ground floor toilets in the northern side of the building. The scheme will also involved the replacement of the boiler flue installation and associated site works.
Portadown Town Hall is described in the officer’s report as a two-storey Grade B1 listed building.
It adds: “The flue from the boiler on the south elevation of the rear extension will exit the building through the existing flue opening and a new opening will be created on the east elevation of the side extension to serve the associated boiler.
“Both locations are sandwiched between buildings and are not readily visible from the main public vantage points of Edward Street to the front or Meadow Lane car park to the rear.
“On the rear elevation of the side extension a new incoming gas pipe from the utility meter rises from below ground level to enter the building at low level in the new boiler room. This new gas line is to be in steel and be painted ‘gas yellow’. A valved connection from the gas meter to the boiler room in the rear extension will run along part of the south elevation at a height of 3.7ms above finished floor level.”
Officers – in consultation with Historic Environment Division – were of the opinion that, given the scale and location of the proposed works, it would “not have an unacceptable adverse impact on the character of the building and its setting and, furthermore, its features will remain intact and unimpaired”.
Sinn Fein Councillor Kevin Savage, who chairs the planning committee, inviting feedback, remarked: “It seems the heating system’s knackered and needs replaced, essentially, if I could boil it down to that.”
Party colleague Councillor Mary O’Dowd, sitting next to him, said: “That’s one way of putting it!”
Then, going to the proposal stage, the chair – who said it “urgently needs fixed ” – added: “It’s something that needs done and now’s the time to do it.”
Ulster Unionist Councillor Julie Flaherty said: “It is something that needs done. There’s a whole lot that needs urgently done in Portadown Town Hall. If this is the start of getting some work done to Portadown Town Hall and maybe getting it up the capital plan a wee bit I’ll propose this – and many other things that need done in Portadown Town Hall.”
DUP Councillor Kyle Moutray said he was “very happy” to second acceptance of both application.
“It’s a very straight forward application that seeks to modernise the heating system there,” said Councillor Moutray.
“And, in a similar vein, I hope to see more investment in Portadown Town Hall.
“I’m content that there’s going to be no adverse impact on what is an important listed building in the town centre.”
