People who cannot make the meeting - and I urge
everyone to make the effort as it will probably be
your last chance to have any influence on the process
- should at least email the manager with their
comments which should be short, clear and polite so he
gets the point. Email Garry Parker (two 'r's in Garry)
at garry.parker@...
Send a copy to our website so we know what is being
said. Thanks, Paul


--- gabriel ellenberg <gabtry@...> wrote:

> Really agreed with what you had to say Marion. The
> last thing we need is to
> 'save' York Hall' in a physical sense but to lose it
> a community sense because the marketing
> people want to 'position' the facility differently.
> There are enough luxury type clubs in London
> already. We may need to careful that they don't try
> to push it through with the council by having
> cheaper 'off-peak' prices midday, midweek only as a
> stop to being a community facility and prohibitively
> expensive charges in the evening or at weekends when
> workng people can go.
> Sorry I can't go to the meeting either - not in
> London. Is there any kind of web-based
> comment/feedback page where people can officially
> comment on the proposals
> Gabriel
>
> Mark <mark_yorkhall@...> wrote:
> Hi Marion,
>
> I think you're absolutely right when you say
>
> "So going for plain, comfortable and clean (think
> project's budget)
> rather than a difficult to maintain luxurious venue
> would be the
> way..."
>
> I just dont see how the higher prices needed to
> support a luxury
> venue would work in Tower Hamlets. Places like
> Porchester Hall
> priced at over £19 exist in more upmarket areas for
> those that have
> the money.
>
> It amazes me that so many people are prepared to pay
> good money for
> such dilapidated and poorly maintained facilities. I
> go to meet old
> friends and make new ones in a unique atmosphere.
> I'm sure many
> others do too dispite the poor state of the
> surroundings. I dont
> think we are looking for "Luxury" just a good
> quality, clean and
> functional steam bath.
>
> One of the best things about the York Hall today is
> how diverse the
> users are - different classes, colours,
> nationalities,
> religions, professions, political views and ages get
> together and
> make lasting friendships. That's priceless! I would
> feel so bad if
> this was lost and replaced by something only
> accessable to those
> comfortably off.
>
> I'm sure the council wants to encourage this
> diversity. By
> preserving the simplicity and making comfort and
> cleanliness the
> priorities rather than "Luxury" and increased prices
> I'm sure the
> level of diversity will be increased and more locals
> will feel the
> Steam is for them.
>
> Maybe its too difficult to market "clean and comfy"
> sucsessfully so
> the label "Luxury" gets used instead. It just doesnt
> seem
> appropriate somehow. Luxury seems at odds with the
> characteristics
> that many of us value in York Hall - simplicity,
> friendliness,
> community - the simple pleasure of jumping into the
> cold plunge and
> standing under the cascading water. I suppose the
> key thing is what
> is meant by "Luxury". Maybe thats what we need to
> ask at the User
> meeting.
>
> I hear that next week there will be a Turkish bath
> staff meeting
> about how the redevelopment will be managed. It
> looks as though
> something is finally going to happen. Lets hope the
> User Meeting on
> the 5th September is well attended and we get to
> hear some good news.
>
> Its a pity you cant make it to the meeting. Can you
> get someone else
> to go along in your place?
>
> Best Regards
>
> Mark
>
>
>
> --- In Yorkhall@..., "Mark"
> <mark_yorkhall@y...> wrote:
> > Hi Mark,
> >
> > I've been following the progression of this
> consultation from
> early
> > days...yet haven't been able to attend the latest
> user meetings
> due
> > to
> > business trips.
> >
> > As I won't be able to attend on the 5th of
> September, I'd like to
> > pass
> > on some questions and views about what is taking
> place at York
> Hall
> > re:
> > the Turkish Baths.
> >
> > Being a regular user of this facilities I have
> noticed that they
> are
> > used by people from the local community, many from
> "ethnic
> > minorities".
> > I am convinced that the Turkish Baths in York Hall
> are a great
> place
> > for
> > women of all origins and backgrounds to meet and
> mix.. Keeping the
> > single sex rota seems to be the only way
> (otherwise the capacity
> has
> > to
> > be reduced) maybe it could be more flexible (ie
> split 1 day
> between
> > women only and men only).
> >
> > It is important that the facilities can attract
> more members of
> the
> > local community and provide better quality
> facilities than at the
> > moment
> > as they are impractical and need to be redesigned
> for facilitating
> > maintenance.
> >
> > Like the rest of the venue, the Turkish and
> Russian baths have
> great
> > architectural qualities and valuable features that
> should be
> > preserved
> > or restored.
> >
> > A successful development of the place means
> capitalizing on the
> > heritage
> > and community aspects that York Hall is standing
> for. I urge the
> > decision makers on this project to put these
> points at the core of
> > the
> > discussion and work, since I also believe that
> these arguments
> can
> > be
> > the base of a commercial success. So going for
> plain, comfortable
> > and
> > clean (think project's budget) rather than a
> difficult to maintain
> > luxurious venue would be the way...
> >
> > a question: are they thinking of increasing the
> price for users to
> > enjoy
> > the Turkish baths?
> > that would be a bad idea
> >
> > I'm sure a lot of the group members would agree
> and that my voice
> > would
> > be echoed in that meeting and that it will help
> making some
> > progress.
> >
> > all the best,
> >
>
=== message truncated ===




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