Published: Sunday, 25th January, 2009 4:00pm
Slough Town Hall is 'historic'
by Aamina Masud
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SLOUGH'S Town Hall could soon be saved from the bulldozers.
English Heritage has said the 1930s building, off Bath Road, used as Slough Borough Council's headquarters, is of ‘historic interest' and recommended that it should be listed as a Grade-II building.
If the site is listed then it will mean the building will not be knocked down under current plans to transform it into a housing development.
English Heritage also received a 800-strong petition in support of its listing.
Shadow arts minister Ed Vaizey said: "This building has an indisputable claim to Grade-II listed status. I shall be writing to culture minister Barbara Follett as soon as possible to ask her to accept English Heritage's recommendation and confirm the listing."
The news was announced this week and has been praised by Campaign to Save Slough Heritage.
Founding member Martin Gibbons said: "This is fantastic news. It means we are one stop closer to saving our iconic building. The building is of national importance - it was made by the best architect of its time and it's in great condition. I once heard someone saying that selling the Town Hall is a bit like selling off the family silver and I agree. We are proud of Slough's heritage and our beautiful Town Hall."
The group also argues that the building could become a new home for Slough Museum, and the council chamber could be licensed for civil weddings.
The building, which first opened in 1937, was built in a neo-classical Swedish style with Art Deco influences.
It was designed by renowned architects CH James and S Rowland Pierce. Last year The Observer ran a search for the missing golden key to the Town Hall's main door. It was eventually traced back to Thelma Long, 79, of Windsor, whose late husband was the grandson of Mrs AG Trevener, who officially opened the Town Hall with the key.
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Zabir Ahmed
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Jan 26 09 10:42
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Get rid of this building its madness we are throwing money into a fire trying to maintain this not for purpose building. Its us tax payers who foot the bill not the English Heritage.
Jay
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Jan 27 09 01:53
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Zabir should get a sense for history, It must be the most poorly thoughtout comment I have heard in a very long while.
The Town Hall is historic and intergral to the towns DNA, I am writing this from vacation in New York and must say having seen the history around here of similar buildings it would be a utterly pathetic loss to the town if it goes.
Slough is a desperate town and the butt of all jokes due to decision making that favours too much only slough industry and not enough slough community.
Forget the ugly new builds that will probably show up in place of the town hall. Leave it as it is and appreciate what you got.
Zabir if you dont like it. Move out into a New Build.
Mike
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Jan 27 09 01:55
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Ahmed is living in la la land.
The town hall must stay!!! end off!!
Zabir Ahmed
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Jan 27 09 11:26
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There are some stunning buildings which have history behind them and have been standing in slough for more than 100 years an example of this is St Laurence’s Church, This church is an illustration of Slough heritage which I think deserved more than the Town hall. Others include The Mere in Datchet, St Bernards School, Upton Court and let’s not forget the Horlicks building.
St Laurence’s Church requires £100,000 to save its crumbling stonework I would rather have the council spend my TAX money on this cause than the Town Hall.
As for Slough / English heritage please don’t question mine, I am proud of being English and to be raised up in Slough, I’m proud of Slough’s culture and heritage and yes my parents and their parents all are proud Slough residents (Born and brought up here).
Avril you mention that Slough once was very nice town that is the problem it once was a very nice Town, we don’t want Slough to be remembered as something in the past, there needs to be money spent on slough to bring it back to its past glory.
There needs to be balance as to maintaining heritage buildings and wasting of TAX payer’s money. Some of the buildings in Slough make us a laughing stock such as the Office building in the Trading estate, Brunel bus station and the Town Hall.
Zabir Ahmed
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Jan 27 09 11:29
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There are some stunning buildings which have history behind them and have been standing in slough for more than 100 years an example of this is St Laurence’s Church, This church is an illustration of Slough heritage which I think deserved more than the Town hall. Others include The Mere in Datchet, St Bernards School, Upton Court and let’s not forget the Horlicks building.
St Laurence’s Church requires £100,000 to save its crumbling stonework I would rather have the council spend my TAX money on this cause than the Town Hall.
As for Slough / English heritage please don’t question mine, I am proud of being English and to be raised up in Slough, I’m proud of Slough’s culture and heritage and yes my parents and their parents all are proud Slough residents (Born and brought up here).
Avril you mention that Slough once was very nice town that is the problem it once was a very nice Town, we don’t want Slough to be remembered as something in the past, there needs to be money spent on slough to bring it back to its past glory.
There needs to be balance as to maintaining heritage buildings and wasting of TAX payer’s money. Some of the buildings in Slough make us a laughing stock such as the Office building in the Trading estate, Brunel bus station and the Town Hall.
Paul Longley
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Jan 27 09 11:34
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Very well said Ahmed, I totally agree with your sentiments, the Town Hall is an eye sore and yes I think my Council tax should be paid for useful causes such as the St Laurence church.
As for the Brunel bus station isn’t that going to be replaced as part of the Heart of Slough project.
Leon
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Jan 27 09 12:59
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Everyone has some valid points in this discussion. But we need to sit back, analyse and construct an appropriate solution to all of them.
Our heritage is important and we don't want to dilute or remove what helped to make our town. Lets not forget that the Town Hall is iconic and it rightfully has a place in Sloughs history.
But we do need to look at cost of maintaining this building and the think about the purpose that is serves today.
The money could be spent in others areas so I can see Zabirs point. But we don't want to destroy our image at the same time by removing it from society.
We need to look at how we can transform the Town Hall into a partial or fully financially sufficient building.
Maybe if we offer the following services or cater for the town needs we could potentially achieve this. What we could offer to business and private parties. Banqueting, Party, Events, Conferencing, Weddings, Filming, Exhibitions, Courses, Events.
All set in and around the grounds of this centre stage of excellence. NB: I’ve worked in the old Town Hall so I can talk from experience.
Zabir Ahmed
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Jan 27 09 13:03
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Leons of point of view does make sense by making the Town Hall profitable it will help to maintain the building. Im sure people would want to book this building for events such as mentioned above.
Tony
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Jan 27 09 19:02
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I think Zabir is living in Modern Apartment (FLAT) in the centre of slough and calling it Art Deco :-) Wake up man!
The town hall must stay regardless.
Mike
(A Tax Payer with common sense)
Avril Hassett
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Jan 27 09 20:52
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Well, Zabir, that is the first time I have heard that the Town Hall makes us a laughing stock! Yes, I do remember when Slough was a nice town - one in which it was safe to walk after dark - and there were very nice buildings unfortunately now no more. I understand the Town Hall is in pretty good shape and I take it for that reason it doesn't need a great deal spent on it. It could actually become a 'paying proposition' if it was used as a venue for weddings etc. Being opposite the park is also a plus. Although you have been born and raised in Slough, as have your parents before you, you obviously do not have the same sense of history as I have. Not everything modern is good - and you have mentioned a few buildings that fall into this category but there is nothing wrong with the Town Hall and it should stay, regardless, as has been expressed by others. There are plenty of modern buildings used by the Council around the town on which taxpayers money has been and will be spent in the future and I doubt any of them will stand the test of time as has the present Town Hall.
Ammar Aziz
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Feb 23 09 21:44
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KEEP IT....we need a building that represents a diverse range of styles and acceptance. The town hall is a classic building that would make a perfect place for a art galleries and history of slough. Museum would be perfect. The one on the High St. is not seen by passing traffic and people outside Slough when visiting need to see the glorification Slough "can" offer. We have new building everywhere, Bath road and the industrial estate is full of them, we need character buildings to give Slough a mixture of trends. Further more, should it be a reason to demolish due to money reasons, I am certain that the Town hall can be used for luxury apartments or a school building.
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