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Heritage Centre
The site was previously a set of Public Conveniences and the main Bus Shelter / Bus Stop for Port Erin Village for Isle of Man Transport Buses.
Since the regeneration of the village in 2017, the main bus stop has been re-located to Station Road outside of the Steam Railway Station and use of the Public Transport bus stop on Bridson Street is no longer in use.
There are newly refurbished public conveniences within the regeneration scheme at the Railway Station, which is also the new combined Public Transport hub (train and bus stop) for the village.
The Public Conveniences on Bridson Street, have recently been taken out of use the Commissioners of Port Erin as they do not comply with current disabled access requirements and are in need of substantial financial input to upgrade same.
In reviewing the overall requirement for the provision of Public Convenience facilities for the village the Commissioners of Port Erin decided to close the Bridson Street facility, in favour of the existing Public Conveniences at Station Road Car Park which they have refurbished, to modern standards.
The Commissioners of Port Erin also have current standard Public Conveniences at Shore Road and have taken over the Harbour Toilets (which were not previously available for public use), so the village has a considerable number of such facilities, very strategically located.
The loss of the Bridson Street facility, does not diminish the overall number of 4 sets of Public Convenience facilities in the village.
The Commissioners of Port Erin were considering an application for demolition of the Bus Shelter and Public Conveniences and to just tarmac over the footprint of the building when they were approached by Rushen Heritage Trust [RHT] with the proposal for change of use of the Building, to a Heritage Centre.
The proposal for change of use, is to convert the existing building into a Heritage Centre for RHT for use as a 'Community Hub' Building for the Charity, to include for an Exhibition / Meeting Shop Area, with a Store, Office, WC and Kitchenette, together with a new external disabled ramp / step access and perimeter hand railing to facilitate access to the building.
RHT originated from a request by the Commissioners of Port Erin in 2013 for ideas from the public for the future development of Port Erin. This led to the formation of RHT, which was launched in mid-2014.
RHT has two main objectives. First, to strengthen community involvement, collective memory and local identity by preserving, enhancing, communicating, and celebrating the heritage of the Beautiful South. Second, to use heritage to attract visitors to Rushen from the rest of the Island, the UK and beyond, all for the benefit of both the local economy and whole community.
To date RHT has held seven exhibitions at a variety of pop-up locations, attracting over 10,000 visits. The WW2 Women's Internment exhibitions at St Catherine's Church Hall generated over 6,000 visits, two thirds by people who lived outside Rushen.
RHT has published three heritage books. A half-day WW2 Women's Internment experience has been successfully delivered to schools within and outside Rushen. An innovative i-Beacon Walking Trail from Port St Mary to the Sound has been established, live Seaside Pierrot Shows revived with the intention to run more talks in the future.
RHT has more than 150 active volunteers / supporters, a website, an active social media program and members have interviewed many people as input to their books and exhibitions and currently has several teams (HATS) of highly committed volunteers.
Existing Building Elevation Photographs:
Front Elevation {{image:221943}}
End Elevation
End / Rear Elevation
The existing front and rear timber windows are proposed to be replaced with new white uPVC double glazed windows. 3 No. new openings are proposed for new uPVC high level windows to be installed in the central rear wall and the 3 No. large front elevation openings are to have uPVC double glazed units installed, one with disabled width access door.
After the strip out of the existing WC's, internally walls, ceilings and floors will be upgraded with insulation and finishes to increase the ' U ' value of the building to create the proposed rooms / layouts.
3 No. signage boards are proposed, one on both end elevations and one above the 3 'arches' on the front elevation. Final design / wording to be approved.
All other external finishes, felt roofs, uPVC fascias / soffits, uPVC rainwater goods and render finishes to remain as existing.
It is noted that a Planning Application (Ref: 08/02171/B) was approved on 8th January, 2009 for the 'Erection of extension to provide disabled toilets and creation of access ramp.'
The only other option for the building now that it is no longer in use as a Bus Shelter / Bus Stop and Public Conveniences (de-commissioned) would be to demolish / remove it completely and reinstate the tarmacadam surfacing to the footpath.
The Heritage Centre would be known as 'Tree Archyn' (Three Arches), would provide the Trust with a multi-purpose base to support its online and other activities.
The benefits of the proposal to Port Erin are considered as:
It is intended that the Heritage Centre would initially be open 5-6 days within a week from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. (which is likely to be 3-4 weekdays plus Saturday and maybe a Sunday) from May to September and as required for evening events/meetings / etc. over this period, as well as separate 'one-off' or short term events from September to April, however the number of days/months of opening may be extended dependent on demand / requirements.
With the change of use being proposed, there is likely to be a slight increase in vehicular traffic used by visitors to the Centre.
It is anticipated that the greater number of visitors to the Centre will arrive by Public Transport (Train and Bus) as well as Private Coach. The close proximity of Port Erin Train Station and the re-located Bus Stop is ideally situated for all visitors to the village. The existing bus stop to the frontage of the Heritage Centre is an ideal drop of point for Private Coaches, which can then park up in the Station Road Car Park.
It is envisaged that the visitors will come to the site using the train and by private coaches, as they already do when visiting the village, with the Heritage Centre providing another visitor attraction for them.
Attached is a plan indicating Port Erin Commissioner owned car parks, the yellow areas having a current waiting restriction of 16 hours in 24 hours.
Additionally, the areas indicated in green are 'on street' parking with various parking restrictions. The road area directly outside the Bridson Street toilets is unrestricted in respect of parking.
The layby opposite outside the Cherry Orchard is adopted highway and is not therefore for the sole use of the Cherry Orchard. [It is noted that there was the recently approved change of use planning application for the Chequers Bar to retail at the Cherry Orchard.]
It is considered that visitors who would come to the site by car would utilise the car park at Shoprite, the car park at the Station (behind the Police Station \& Methodist Church) as well as availing themselves of the street parking adjacent to the site. [The remainder of the Shoprite car park is owned by Shoprite and one other party. Shoprite owns the car parking area behind the Toilet Block and also the wooded area.]
Main purpose is to provide RHT with a permanent physical presence in Rushen - a hub or centre - to supplement our periodic pop-up events, talks \& publications and strong online presence. Location is highly visible and relatively low cost.
Importantly, RHT needs proper storage facilities for its collection of books, exhibition materials and records. At present they are stored in volunteers' garages - far from ideal.
RHT would be happy to distribute local literature to visitors and provide Tourist Information. Port Erin Commissioners may also wish to re-route tour buses to the RHT Centre as the destination stop, to reduce traffic levels in Station Road.
Port Erin Commissioners were considering an application for demolition and to just tarmac over the footprint of the building prior to the approach by Rushen Heritage Trust and the proposal for change of use.
Rushen Heritage Trust is a charity and as such has limited funds, which they consider would, with the demand and interest already created, be able to convert and utilise the building as a Heritage Centre.
The application is basically to change the use of what currently exists and provide a heritage facility, in what otherwise would be either demolished or decommissioned and boarded up.
The considered benefits of the change of use of the building are considered as:
The Commissioners of Port Erin have considered the proposals made by Rushen Heritage Trust and have approved in principle (subject to Planning Approval and a Lease) to lease the building to Rushen Heritage Trust for 99 years.
Robert Graham & Co Chartered Quantity Surveyors
Robert Graham & Co Chartered Quantity Surveyors
The Commissioners of Port Erin
24th May, 2019
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