After five years of campaigning, The Friends of Water Lane Hall are delighted that East Herts Council has given Bishop’s Stortford’s residents and businesses the green light to move forward. The building was saved from demolition for a car park – now the race is on to raise funds to put together a plan of action.

Vision for the future

Transformation of the arts and crafts building into a multi-purpose studio space, suitable for arts performance, rehearsal, workshops, classes, meetings, exhibitions and receptions. This would include a welcoming entrance on Old River Lane, access for equipment, studio lighting, display space.

A building made structurally sound, accessible, secure, energy efficient, with kitchen and bar – while keeping the 100 year character of continuous community life here.

Complementing South Mill Arts and the other venues in the town, adding to the richness of the vibrant North Street quarter.

Join the campaign to keep Water Lane Hall in community use

Volunteer

Now that we have the offer of taking on the building, we need to engage a lot of new blood in our small volunteer group. In particular we now need volunteers with specific professional skills that are willing to roll their sleeves up and lean in to the mammoth task ahead. We are setting up a charitable company – then we can apply for big grants. The council commissioned a comprehensive building survey – our team will interpret and programme works, starting with stopping the rot – nothing has been done to the building for years.

Donate

The council has said that to proceed we must raise £500,000 to complete essential works required to reopen the hall. £170,000 has been set aside by the council for this. There is a Just Giving site. You can pledge donations. There are already fundraising events being planned:

Big Quiz for Water Lane Hall on Friday 8th May – tickets available here: : https://www.eventbookings.com/b/event/charity-quiz-night-for-friends-of-water-lane-hall

Watch out for the Acoustic Club benefit gig.

Energise

Give us suggestions for the building and its use. Tell us where we can learn from. Tell us if you would book the space for events, workshops or classes.

Graeme Smith says: “We see a future where the hall is bustling from morning until night, hosting everything from semi-professional theatre and comedy to community choir rehearsals, art classes and a welcoming daytime cafe and more besides”

We would love to hear what you would add to that vision.