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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Q6: How much will the new venue cost to build?
Around £14.4-million.
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Q7: Where's the money coming from - the council tax payer?
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.
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Q8: How much will it cost the council to run?
The council is currently going through a process to select an external management company to run the venue on its behalf. Until this is completed it is not possible to give an answer to this question right now.
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Q9: Does a sound business plan exist, and if so, can I see it?
A business was developed at an early stage based on the council operating the new venue. Financial and business planning is now based on the venue being operated by an external management company.
Releasing the information that is in any business plan could compromise the council's position in its negotiations. Consequently, the council will not be releasing the business plan at this point in time.
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Q10: What sort of acts will be on at the new venue?
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.
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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.
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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.
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Q13: What about the noise from the building and people leaving?
The council has worked 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.
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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.
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Q15: When will work on-site start and be complete?
It is expected that work on the new building will start during April 2010 and it will be completed by late summer 2011.
Demolition and remediation work (site clean up due to former use as gasworks) was completed in early 2009.
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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. The appointment of a building contractor has taken into account 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.
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Q17: Will the building be lit up at night?
Yes. Similar to the noise issue, we have worked with specialist engineers to ensure this does not adversely impact on local residents.
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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.
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Q19: Will the building be environmentally friendly?
We're making the building as environmentally friendly as possible within the limits of feasibility. Energy generated on site from renewable sources will be used 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 has also be incorporated into the design.
The buildiing is expected to achieve a BREEAM 'very good' taring.
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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.
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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.
Humberside Police building security experts have been 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.
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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.
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Q23: Is the council going to run it?
Please see the answer to question eight.
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Q24: Will there be any landscaping, trees or a garden in the area?
There will be some high quality 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), and public open space.
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Q25: What will it be called?
A name hasn't been decided yet.
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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 Baths Hall on the council website.
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