The Corn Hall working group, set up to drive the project, wants to extend the range of functions offered by the hall, enabling it to become a multi-purpose leisure, cultural, educational, social and entertainment venue for Diss and the surrounding area.

Architectural drawings have detailed making the venue usable as a theatre, concert hall, cinema and conference centre.

The assembly rooms would include multi-functional staging, for theatre, concerts and cinema and even a catwalk for fashion shows.

The drawings also incorporate a new balcony, increasing the capacity of the venue for shows from 320 to 400 and have received some positive feedback at a public consultation last month (see panel, right).

Working group member Glyn Walden said: "We are equidistant between Norwich, Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds and so are strategically placed on the border to act as a hub for cultural development.

"The Corn Hall is one of the best examples of this sort of venue in the county.

"That is why we believe it is right that we should use this venue as a theatre, concert hall and cinema.

"The icing on the cake would be to have a restaurant upstairs and even the possibility of a roof-top area overlooking the Mere – it would make it very attractive for weddings."

The group has enlisted the services of project management company De Facto, and hopes they will put a business plan together by early July which will then be used to apply to various boards for funding.

Mr Walden targeted 2011 to complete the work at the Corn Hall, with the much quoted figure of £1.8 million to fund the revamp still a rough estimate.

He added: "Much will depend on how much funding we can obtain from the various funding boards such as the heritage lottery.

"The Olympics is still a concern and anybody now applying to the lottery is concerned it is taking away a big slice of it.

"The cost of the 2012 games is going up all the time. It is a pity."

Mr Walden also added that the proposed development of the Corn Hall had nothing to do with this year's increase in the Diss Town Council precept for council tax.

The Corn Hall working group are still interested in how you think the Corn Hall should be developed.

YOU HAVE YOUR SAY

Retired architect and council planning advisor David Summers said that the way the Corn Hall is currently laid out is problematic.

"The disabled toilets can only be accessed from the outside, and the ladies toilets are upstairs. Also, the acoustics are not very good for performances.

"These are ideas to try and utilise the full potential of the hall. At the moment it is just costing money – it's a drain. Hopefully this will get the money back."

Town mayor Simon Olander agreed: "We had a survey done by the residents of Diss to assess leisure provisions in the town, which showed that people want more leisure facilities.

"We've got to be ambitious, and we need to bring the Corn Hall up to date."

Terry Rymer, a visitor from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, said he was impressed by the designs: "I've come here out of my interest in the Mere Players.

Anything that can be done to help them would be a big plus.

"Even just a place where people can have a drink – that kind of thing attracts visitors – especially with a view of the Mere."

Garry Alexander, from Diss Community Partnership, agreed that the plans will have an impact: "If this comes off it will make a huge difference to Diss.

"It will bring all kinds of performances in, it will bring tourists in; it will put Diss on the map."

Tony Palmer, South Norfolk district councillor for Diss added: "It's quite obvious that the Corn Hall has been losing a lot of money – it costs about £40,000 a year.

So this needs to be done in a business-like way. The concept of a balcony and the idea of a restaurant are excellent ideas."

NOW IT IS YOUR TURN

What do you think of the suggestions to redevelop Diss Corn Hall to make it more open for multiple uses?

What kind of things would you like to see the venue used for?

Write – Corn Hall Redevelopment,
Diss Express,
Norfolk & Suffolk House,
Mere Street, Diss, IP22 4AE.

email – editorial@dissexpress.co.uk

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