The history lesson first! For several years now, the Society Committee has been trying to think of ways to enhance the facilities at the Observatory. It even considered whether it was preferable to move the Observatory to somewhere else. After much internal debate by Committee and with Society Members of the time, it was decided to look at enhancing the existing location in Hastings Close. It was at this time we did a major round of applying for grants and funds from elsewhere.
The Committee was successful in getting a couple of major grants. The first was for about £5,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund, which we put toward the 12-inch Meade and some of the computers now located at the front of the lecture room. The second was for around £2,500 which came from the local councils, and which we used to put a sewer pipe and manhole chamber onto the site. The idea was that at some time we were sure to get a loo put in on the site, weren't we?
In January 2002 we got planning permission from the Chesterfield Borough Council to do a number of things:
- Extend the clubhouse or lecture room
- Form a store outside the current building
- Put a disabled toilet on site (hurrah!)
Two of the plans are available here (64kb, jpg) and here (68kb, jpg) (These have both been on display in the lecture room for some time). There is also a PDF copy of the planning application available here (635kb, pdf).
The idea is to create a separate computer room at the back of the existing lecture room, with its own access into the dome. The disabled toilet would be adjacent to a store which could be accessed from outside. There would be additional storage outside, and an extended lobby area off the lecture room. The net result of these changes would be to allow wheelchair bound access to the lecture room, toilet facilities, and the computer room. There would also be easier circulation on Open Nights!
We have to start the development before January 2007. And here is the snag. The building works are estimated at £25,000, which we don't have. There is a possibility that we might be able to get a large amount of money from an agency which we know has already funded a similar project with another Observatory in North Yorkshire (so no competition to us). We would have to find about 11% or £2,750, which is a lot easier to raise.
Committee have until 6th February 2004 to get an application in if we want to do anything this Summer, although we can still apply if we miss this date. Part of the form we have to fill in asks us to demonstrate that we have consulted with the local community and/or members of the society on a number of things. And so here is the issue. Whilst we did this at the time, members and times have moved on. We hence ask you to fill in the form below with your views on the issue. Alternatively you can write your points in a letter and address it to:
Chesterfield Astronomical Society,
The Barnett Observatory,
Hastings Close,
Chesterfield,
Derbyshire,
S41 8RH