I was disappointed at some of the comments made, especially the implied disinterest of councillors in the future of the town hall.

Let me assure everybody there is unanimous and passionate support for continued town hall facilities in Horncastle.
There was a majority vote by the town council in favour of a refurbishment plan and subsequently, in view of cost considerations, a majority vote we could, as a town council, be persuaded, if necessary, to accept demolition, subject to a rebuild of similar size on the existing site.

There was a majority vote by the town council that Couns Roark and Savage should represent the town council as part of the newly formed Horncastle Town Hall Steering Group to further the interests and aspirations of the townspeople.
The town council had been informed by ELDC that the town hall was prohibitively expensive to maintain and refurbishment would place a great burden on council tax payers, but that it would cost the town a great deal less to demolish and rebuild, it was implied, a like-for-like, environmentally friendly and health and safety compliant building.

The town council subsequently agreed, by majority, this was the option to pursue, and which became part of the brief of Couns Roark and Savage.

The absence from the meeting of the deputy mayor and me gave an opportunity for supporters of the town hall to demonstrate the extent of public opinion without risking accusations of town council bias or manipulation of public opinion.

Had we been present, one or other of us would have been obliged by law to chair the meeting.
All other councillors were urged to attend the meeting and did so but, unfortunately, they were barely allowed to speak, and in an atmosphere more like a Brown Shirt rally in the 1930's than a serious public debate.

Coun Christopher Wybrow
Mayor Of Horncastle