Plans to alter Haverfordwest’s Shire Hall submitted
7:30am Monday 7th March 2011
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Plans to remove the former court room furniture would be a ‘desecration’ of Haverfordwest’s historic Shire Hall, objectors say.
Red Dragon Development has applied to Pembrokeshire County Council to remove the lower level court room furniture, apart from the judge’s
bench, and level the floor of the grade two listed building.
The proposal states that the changes would enable the space to be “utilised for general assembly use, which could include markets, exhibitions, concerts, recitals and performances”.
Haverfordwest Civic Society strongly opposes the removal of furniture, as it did when plans to renovate the building were first approved five years ago.
Chairman Derek Rees said: “It would be a desecration of the Shire Hall’s grade two listed interior.
“We have objected to that, but whether that objection will hold any weight we don’t know.
“Haverfordwest has lost the Shire Hall and with Foley House on the market we are feeling a bit sore that the town’s built heritage is being lost slowly.”
The William Owen-designed building now houses two restaurants and a takeaway, but the courtroom area is not being used and is not fully accessible to disabled people.
“The courtroom itself is a substantial space within the heart of the county town and no beneficial/cost effective use, which would allow the furniture to remain insitu, has come forward,” adds the
proposal.
Haverfordwest Town Council also objects to the plans.
Sheriff Charles Davies said: “All the original plans clearly stated that all that seating had to remain and as far as we’re concerned that remains the same.
“The hall is the major part of that building and has a very significant history as part of Haverfordwest.”
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