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Swiss tea rooms survey launched
Decisions could soon be made on the future of Belper's historic Swiss Tea Rooms.
Amber Valley Borough Council announced last year that it was looking to renovate the dilapidated tea rooms as part of a huge maintenance project on Belper's River Gardens, but action seems to have stalled for several months.
Now the authority has launched a survey to find out what the people of Belper want to happen to the Edwardian building, which has fallen into disrepair since it was closed in the early 1980s.
Options included in the survey, which was sent out randomly to homes in the town, are to knock down the 104-year-old facility and replace it with a modern structure, or to renovate the building in the same style as it was originally built.
Local councillors and heritage bosses are pushing for the building to be restored to its former glory.
John Nelson, leader of Belper Town Council, said: "I believe these tea rooms are fundamental to Belper. They are really part of the river gardens.
"We don't want a glass palace or a red brick building; we want to see something equal to these gardens. It should be made to look the same as it used to."
Adrian Farmer, co-ordinator of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, which the river gardens are part of, said: "The river gardens are a rare example of an Edwardian water garden.
"They are a key part of our World Heritage Site. Amber Valley has spent all this money on getting them back to the way they were 100 years ago but until the tea rooms are replaced it's been pointless spending that money. We need to make sure we get them restored as they were."
The council last year submitted a planning application to demolish the tea rooms after a survey revealed irreversible structural damage to the building.
The Friends of Belper River Gardens and supporters of the gardens around the town campaigned against the demolition, which never went before the planning board. They said that not enough detail had been provided about what would replace the facility, which is not a listed building.
The borough council spent 100,000 refurbishing and improving the river gardens in 2008 and 2009. Further money was spent on a new heritage-themed play area for the park, which was set up by Belper philanthropist Herbert Strutt in 1906 as a gift to the town.
The closing date for surveys to be returned to the council is Friday, march 26. After that the council will consider possible designs, which will be put out for public consultation.
What do you think? Let us know hat you think should happen to the tea rooms. Email us at editor@belpernews.co.uk.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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