Below you will find some of the more frequently asked questions about the new entertainment venue, along with their answers.
If you have a question that is not included below, or you would like more information on the new venue, please contact Nolan Bennett on nolan.bennett@northlincs.gov.uk.
- How big will the new venue be?
- Where will the new venue be in relation to the former Baths Hall?
- What parts of the former Baths Hall are staying?
- Why is the council building a new venue and what was wrong with the old Baths Hall?
- What will the new venue be made of?
- How much will the new venue cost to build?
- Where's the money coming from - the council tax payer?
- How much will it cost the council to run?
- Does a sound business plan exist, and if so, can I see it?
- What sort of acts will be on at the new venue?
- Could I have my children's birthday party there?
- Where are people expected to park?
- What about the noise from the building and people leaving?
- How close to my garden will the building be?
- When will work on-site start and be complete?
- What about disruption when the work is taking place?
- Will the building be lit up at night?
- How much will it cost to get in?
- Will the building be environmentally friendly?
- Isn't the front a bit like a goldfish bowl?
- What about security and people getting in at night?
- Will the new building affect my tv reception?
- Is the council going to run it?
- Will there be any landscaping, trees or a garden in the area?
- What will it be called?
- Where do I go for further information?
Q1: How big will the new venue be?
The total area of the new venue will be around 5,700m2. This compares to the former Baths Hall that had a total floor area of around 4,900m2. However, 450m2 of this was a generally unusable basement area.
The public areas of the new venue will be on the ground and first floor, together with kitchen facilities and backstage areas. Technical areas for lighting and sound equipment etc. will be on the second and third floors.
The main auditorium, the highest part of the building, will be around 17 metres high. It is set back from the front and rear of the building by around 10 to 12 metres. It will accommodate up to 2,000 people standing or 1,200 seated.
Back to questions
Q2: Where will the new venue be in relation to the former baths hall?
A plan is available that shows this in more detail. But the new venue will be located on the former Baths Hall and Scunthorpe Youth Centre sites. The new main auditorium will be positioned slightly to the right of the old auditorium and 1930's frontage as viewed from Doncaster Road.
Back to questions
Q3: What parts of the former Baths Hall are staying?
The 1930's frontage and part of the building behind it will be retained. If you can get to the site in Doncaster Road it's the part that is remaining now. It will be reused as an administration suite and will be where the new ticket office is located. So, you will be able to buy your tickets from the old part of the building.
Back to questions
Q4: Why is the council building a new venue, and what was wrong with the old baths hall?
The old Baths Hall was in very poor condition and was not fit for purpose. The accommodation it provided for both the audience and performers was well below an acceptable standard. This meant it was really difficult to get audiences and performers to come to the Baths Hall - not like it was in its hey-day.
The new entertainment venue will provide a venue that the council thinks the people of North Lincolnshire need and deserve. It should also attract major acts to the area.
There are other reasons for doing it. For instance, the council thinks it will really help to regenerate the Doncaster Road area and boost the local economy.
Back to questions
Q5: What will the new venue be made of?
The building will consist of a steel frame clad with block work, glass and coloured wall panels. The roof will be metal sheeting. The existing pool bases will be left in place and a new permanent floor will be built over it. But, unlike the old Baths Hall, the pool bases will be under storage areas and the toilets, not the main auditorium.
Back to questions
Q6: How much will the new venue cost to build?
Around £15-million.
Back to questions
Q7: Where's the money coming from - the council tax payer?
The council has committed to invest £10m of its own money into the new venue and is currently looking at ways of obtaining the additional £5m from other sources. The money the council is investing will come from its 'Capital Development Programme' that is funded via various grants, external and internal sources.
No specific extra charge is being made to council taxpayers in North Lincolnshire to pay for the council's investment in the new venue.
Back to questions
Q8: How much will it cost the council to run?
It hasn't been decided how the new venue will be managed yet, so it is not possible to give an answer to this question right now.
Back to questions
Q9: Does a sound business plan exist, and if so, can I see it?
A business plan does exist that is based on the council operating the new venue. But a decision still needs to be made by the council about how the new venue will be managed. Until this decision has been made, releasing information that is contained within the business plan could compromise the council's position in any future negotiations. Consequently, the council will not be releasing the business plan at this point in time.
Back to questions
Q10: What sort of acts will be on at the new venue?
The councils Cultural Services team have been working on this, and it is expected that current popular acts like the Happy Mondays, McFly, Sterophonics, Groove Armada, Razorlight, Supergrass and Scouting forGirls will play at the new venue. In addition to this, comedians like Ross Noble and Jimmy Carr together with performances by Lesley Garrett and the musical Joseph are expected to play at the new venue.
Back to questions
Q11: Could I have my children's birthday party there?
Definitely. The new venue will have various rooms to accommodate most uses. In addition to things like birthday parties, the new venue will be available for conferencing and exhibitions, events such as weddings and 'black tie' dinners together with wider community use for festivals, presentations and local clubs etc.
The new venue will be a truly multi-purpose entertainment venue.
Back to questions
Q12: Where are people expected to park?
We've been looking at this and people with disabilities, staff and performers will have on-site parking. People arriving by car to attend events at the new venue will be able to park in council owned car parks in Deyne Avenue, Allanby Street, Dunstall Street, Mary Street, West Street and Robert Street. All of these car parks are less than a 10-minute walk away. We've made sure that there is enough space at these car parks to avoid them being overused.
For really big events people will be able to park at the Parishes Multi-Storey car park.
For people who are environmentally conscious and who may choose not to use a car, the site is well served by bus routes and the area has a good cycle and pedestrian network. There will be secure cycle parking provided within the site. The new venue is less than one mile from the railway station, so people coming from out of town can realistically get to the venue without having to use a car.
As a result of all of the above, we don't think people who live nearby will have major problems trying to find a space to park near their homes.
Back to questions
Q13: What about the noise from the building and people leaving?
The council is working with acoustic engineers to make sure the building is 'soundproofed' enough so that any noise resulting from performances won't have an adverse affect on local residents.
The Architect has also designed the building so that people leave near the front of the site and not from areas next to people's houses.
Back to questions
Q14: How close to my garden will the building be?
On the Mary Street boundary, the closest the building will be to people's gardens is around 12 metres. On the Exeter Road boundary, it will be around 26 metres. The Henry Street boundary is even further away than this.
Back to questions
Q15: When will work on-site start and be complete?
It is expected that work on the new building will start during June 2009 and it will be completed by October 2010.
Site preparation work is ongoing with demolition and remediation work (site clean up due to former use as gasworks) due to be completed before Christmas 2008.
Back to questions
Q16: What about disruption when the work is taking place?
We have, and will continue, to restrict working hours to reasonable periods. The council carefully monitors for noise and dust problems etc. When we appoint a building contractor, a key consideration will be how they can minimise disruption to residents and businesses while work is in progress.
The council will keep residents informed at key stages of work and is very keen to receive any queries or concerns - this will help us minimise any disruption that may be caused. Contact details are provided below.
Back to questions
Q17: Will the building be lit up at night?
Yes. Similar to the noise issue, we are working with specialist engineers to ensure this does not adversely impact on local residents.
Back to questions
Q18: How much will it cost to get in?
Ticket prices and the cost of hiring rooms etc. have not yet been set. Much of this will depend on the actual act that is performing and what specific facilities anyone hiring rooms will require.
Back to questions
Q19: Will the building be environmentally friendly?
We're making the building as environmentally friendly as possible within the limits of feasibility. We are investigating alternative fuel sources to gas and a rainwater harvesting system is also being considered as part of the design. In addition to standard considerations such as the use of sustainable materials, provision for sustainable waste management will also be incorporated into the design.
Back to questions
Q20: Isn't the front a bit like a goldfish bowl?
It will be possible to screen off internal space from outside areas if required.
Back to questions
Q21: What about security and people getting in at night?
The Architect has already considered this and has made sure that the building has good natural surveillance and that roofs etc. are not easy to access by unauthorised people. To deter crime, and help catch offenders when it does happen, the building will have CCTV internally and externally. All is in addition to the usual preventative measures such as intruder alarms etc.
We're also about to get Humberside Police building security experts involved in the design to ensure it is as safe and secure as it can be. The whole of the site will be secured with fencing and gates. In addition to this there will be 'event security' as and when it is required.
We want to do all we can to make sure people using the new venue will be as safe as possible.
Back to questions
Q22: Will the new building affect my tv reception?
We don't think so and we are doing further work on this to make sure TV reception is not affected.
Back to questions
Q23: Is the council going to run it?
It hasn't been decided how the new venue will be managed yet. There are various options that need to be considered, such as operation by the council, operation by a private sector organisation, a joint venture with the private sector, or a non-profit community based council supported organisation.
Back to questions
Q24: Will there be any landscaping, trees or a garden in the area?
Due to how the site will be used, we're not anticipating a lot of landscaped areas. There will be some planting around the perimeter of the site and there will be an area at the front of the building that could be used as a pavement café area (if and when we get good weather).
Back to questions
Q25: What will it be called?
A name hasn't been decided yet.
Back to questions
Q26: Where do I go for further information?
You can contact Nolan Bennett at the council by email: nolan.bennett@northlincs.gov.uk or go to the New Entertainment pages on the council website.
Alternatively a number of drop-in and briefing sessions will be held in various locations over the coming months. Keep checking the council's website for further details.
Back to questions