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P L Y M O U T H [3/3] “I can’t blame the council for selling the centre, although at a quid – cheaper than a Big Mac – it seems a bizarre asking price for a listed building. But I understand the argument that the centre would otherwise be an expensive sinkhole. I’m in two minds about the future home of the council. The inside of the Council House seems befitting, but I’d like it to be a sign of progress both for the council and the city. It needs to reflect what’s important about Plymouth as the UK’s ‘Ocean City,’ our image and our hopes for the future. We need an inviting building that really shows it’s at the heart of the community.” • Jack Reeves is a student in Plymouth is full of stories of our country’s Town Halls and civic buildings. It is available to buy via the link in the bio 📚 — view on Instagram http://bit.ly/2TDB4PC

B E T H N A L G R E E N [1/3] “The elegant staircase and green marble columns lead up to a stained-glass dome that wouldn’t look out of place in the Galleries Lafayette. The owners have spent a bob or two on the old place, evidenced by framed photos of the former dilapidation.” • Dawn Reeves is a writer, story activist and consultant to local government. is full of stories of our country’s Town Halls and civic buildings. It is available to buy via the link in the bio 📚 — view on Instagram http://bit.ly/2RMYfKw

C O V E NT R Y [3/3] “As a Coventry kid, an ex-employee of 32 years’ service, and someone with a strong interest in local history, my emotional reaction is that this was the right course of action – that losing the Council House to, say, a boutique hotel would have been a real mistake. But this view was shaken by an unexpected experience. Coventry still gives long service awards to staff and hosts periodic presentation lunches in St Mary’s Hall. I always tried to attend these events and talk to the staff and their guests. The sad truth is that the overwhelmingly majority had never been in St Mary’s Hall and didn’t even know it existed. Most had not been in the Council House. I would often give impromptu tours and see the amazement on colleagues’ faces as they saw the council chamber, the medieval guildhall and a room where Mary Queen of Scots was held prisoner for the first time. And these are people who all work for the city. So, is the view of the Council House as symbol of civic pride largely a myth, passionately held by a small majority? Is the value of the Council House just as a listed building, or does it have life?” Chris West is a former council finance director, now an independent consultant. is full of stories of our country’s Town Halls and civic buildings. It is available to buy via the link in the bio 📚 — view on Instagram http://bit.ly/2D2yLiU

C O V E NT R Y [1/3] “Coventry Council House is an imposing early 20th Century sandstone building, standing in a square recently renovated by the council, shouting its status as the civic heart of the city. The building is actually built onto the front of St Mary’s Guildhall, a now little known 14th Century gem, home to the city’s ruling elite when Coventry was one of the foremost cities in the country.” Chris West is a former council finance director, now an independent consultant. is full of stories of our country’s Town Halls and civic buildings. It is available to buy via the link in the bio 📚 — view on Instagram http://bit.ly/2GV0ypM