Place House in Ware

After many months of consultation and deliberation, it is with a heavy heart that Ware Town Council must announce that it has been unable to reach agreement with the Hertfordshire Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT) on a new lease for Place House.HBPT is the owner of Place House and the Town Council has leased the Hall from them for 28 years.The decision, in the end, has come down to economics. Expenditure is far outstripping income and will continue to do so especially as HBPT wants to increase the rent by a minimum of four-fold for a lease of only three years.When negotiations first began the rent requested actually represented a twenty times increase! The Town Council also has to bear in mind that in the near future there are likely to be other substantial costs associated with Place House, etc, the boiler and heating system is more than 25 years old and the building is not compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.Place House was gifted to HBPT in the early 1970s. The town's Ware Memorial Fund was used to refurbish the hall and in 1978 Ware Town Council entered into a 28 year lease with HBPT. The Place House Charity was subsequently set up to manage and run Place House as a public hall and the Town Council is grateful to them for their sterling work and stewardship. Over the years Place House has offered an affordable venue for local people and groups. However, its use has been dwindling, and therefore the income, whilst costs (insurance, maintenance, service charges, etc) have been increasing.The Town Council has a duty to be mindful of its council tax payers and feels it would not be prudent for it to enter into a new agreement for only three years knowing that the venture will be losing money every year and with the inevitability of some large maintenance bills. The Town Council has assured all existing users that it will help them find suitable alternative accommodation.HBPT's primary objective is 'to preserve buildings of special architectural or historic interest in the county'. It is hoped, therefore, that HBPT will find a way to ensure that Place House, one of Ware's treasures and a Grade I listed building, continues to be available for the public to enjoy.Related FeaturesAbout Place HouseHave Your SayDisucss this article on the Ware Online Public Forum

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