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Six options for Roundhay's Mansion House
The fate of Roundhay's historic Mansion House could finally be sealed – five years after it closed. Click here for full details.
Bosses at Leeds City Council are looking at six options for the future of the building at Roundhay Park.
They are also looking for a building company to carry out the renovation.
Coun John Procter, executive board member for parks, told a meeting of the Friends of Roundhay Park that the Mansion House had got into such a bad state of repair that before it closed a bucket had to be placed in one room to catch the water pouring through the roof.
He said: "Repairs to the roof and exterior have cost over 1m. The roof was the first bit of attention the building has had since the council acquired it 125 years ago.
"Certain things were uncovered internally which pointed to the fact that the city council had not done all it should have done many years ago."
Coun Procter was updating the Friends on progress – or the lack of it – in renovating and redeveloping the famous Mansion.
He said the council's executive board on October 17 would consider six options for its future use. Companies had submitted proposals for using it commercially.
"At this time I don't know what the options are," he said. "They are very much driven by officers. We may choose to run with company A or B or do nothing or even re-market the Mansion. But it is important we get the right use.
"It could happen that none of the bids we have received meets the
criteria we have set down. Money is not the only thing that is under consideration.
"It has been made quite clear in the bid document that the key element is the quality and style and nature of the operation that the bidders propose."
Coun Procter said that the new operator at the Mansion would be required to pay for everything internally.
Peter Dyson of Park Avenue asked him: "Are we really expecting an operator to pay for all the repairs to the building which the council has let fall down? Surely, we should give some help towards it?"
Coun Procter replied: "An exceptionally good point, which I have made repeatedly to officers of the authority."
He said many residents felt deeply attached to the Mansion and wanted it restored as it was.
"When the previous administration proposed turning it into offices, we got 600 letters of protest," he said. "People wanted it to remain as a place where they held functions."
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Friday 18 May 2012
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