Change of Use Vernon Park Museum
Dear Stockport Borough Council,
Vernon Park Museum was purpose-built in the latter half of the 19th Century. Apart from oddments no exhibits remain since the 'museum' was moved to other 'heritage' spaces in Stockport around 2001. Now widely known as a conference/seminar centre, Stockport Council has continued to apply for, and been granted, status for this building as accredited museum. Several questions arise from this:
1. Why was change of use of this building not mandatory planning procedure in this case?
2. What documents underpin the decision-making trail accompanying the change of use of this building?
3. Where can I access these documents?
Furthermore, the conference/seminar function of this building clearly overrides any one of its exhibition functions. For example, access to displays of local artists is not possible when conferences/seminars are held in the rooms.
The conference/seminar function of this building also clearly overrides the function as meeting space for local community groups. For example, toddler groups cannot meet if the space is required for conferences/seminars. This gives rise to further questions:
1. What documents were submitted to the MLA in support of the 2009 application for the building's registration?
2. On what grounds can the present function of the building be regarded as museum/library space?
3. Is Council owned Pure Innovations tenant/conference and cafe operator or putative owner of the building?
Yours faithfully,
Brigitte Lechner
Dear Ms Lechner,
Thank you for your request for information below which has been given reference2879. Please quote this on any correspondence regarding your request.
Stockport Council will respond to your request within 20 working days. If there will be a charge for disbursements e.g. photocopying in order to provide the information, we will inform you as soon as possible; however such charges are usually waived if they amount to less than £10.
Yours sincerely
Information Services Team
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Dear Ms Lechner,
I am writing in response to your request for information below (Ref 2879).
In relation to your first set of questions: Planning permission is not
required to change the use of a building from a museum to a training
centre/conference centre/seminar centre as both uses fall within Use Class
D1. To change from a museum to a training centre/conference centre/seminar
centre does not amount to development; therefore does not require planning
permission. As such, in response to questions 1, 2 and 3 there will not be
any planning documents as there was no need for them.
In relation to your remaining questions:
The use of the top galleries for meeting space and community use is given
equal weight i.e. both functions of the building are legitimate and
important. Bookings of the space are taken for either type of use in order
to maximise public benefit and one type of use is not favoured over the
other.
1. What documents were submitted to the MLA in support of the 2009
application for the building's registration?
The process in 2009 was not a new application, but effectively a 'renewal'
(a biennial return) which confirms that all the MLA standards are being
maintained. It is not available as an electronic document. We have
recently received verbal confirmation that the site has retained its
Accredited status (note the MLA's 'Registration' scheme has been
superseded by 'Accreditation').
2. On what grounds can the present function of the building be
regarded as museum/library space?
The building is a museum in both name and function. The recent
confirmation of Accredited status proves this point. There attached
spreadsheet shows that 1,738 museum objects are currently on display.
3. Is Council owned Pure Innovations tenant/conference and cafe
operator or putative owner of the building?
The museum is Council-owned and Pure Innovations manage the cafe and other
functions of the site on behalf of the Council.
If you are unhappy with the way we have handled your request you are
entitled to ask for an internal review. Any internal review will be
carried out by a senior member of staff who was not involved with your
original request. To ask for an internal review, contact [1][email
address] in the first instance.
If you are unhappy with the outcome of any internal review, you are
entitled to complain to the Information Commissioner. To do so, contact:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
SK9 5AF
[2]www.ico.gov.uk
01625 545 745
Yours sincerely,
Claire Naven
Claire Naven
Data Protection & Freedom of Information Officer
Metropolitan Borough Council
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Charlotte Peters Rock (Account suspended) left an annotation ()
If, by 'museum exhibits' the Council means those bits and pieces, very badly displayed with little information, in the cellar of Vernon Park Museum, since when has such a hotch potch - heavily overlaid in all areas by the strong smell of urine, been classed as an 'exhibition' of 'museum exhibits'?
Throwing together the detritus, following the removal of all valued pieces to another site, leaves the distinct impression that those - I understand 'disabled? - people who regularly use this site, are second class citizens, who (together with anyone stupid enough to read Stockport.gov.uk website, which states that there is a museum exhibition)are not worthy of the same cultural benefits as the rest of us.
Is that really Stockport MBC reasoning? If so, it is against the Disability Discrimination Legislation. But then Stockport MBC has shown how little it values the disabled. As a consequence, they jump from bridges and tower blocks, are ill-used by public safeguarding employees, and actively 'dissed' by Stockport's CYPDisP. (That is its official title.
see: http://www.stockportcypdisp.org.uk/ - scroll down for broken-legged cockroach logo)
I note that the Museum Building at Vernon Park, was purpose built, in a most beautiful situation, for the people of Stockport; money and land being donated by local worthies, so that the people of Stockport would have suitable recreational and cultural facilities.
What a pity that the current crop of overweening councillors have so little culture left in their make-up, that they take from the rest, their birthright.. trashing the remains - and then calling the place a 'museum'.
Tragic!