Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper
Articles
Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 11 Feb 1961
Page 6 Column 5
Town Council Properties
Old People's Home in Middle Street?
Taunton Town Council will soon have to decide the future of numbers 51 and 52, High Street.
These old shops were brought as an access to the new Crescent car park, but the Council would not agree to their demolition.
So far 25 inquiries have been received from persons or firms interested in buying or leasing the shops.
One might be suitable for the Information Bureau when the Town Hall buildings are pulled down.
Part of the garden of the Melville Hotel, Middle Street, is needed to extend the Canon Street car park, but the owner will not sell the garden without the hotel.
Agreement has now been reached to buy the whole property from Mrs. L. SHIRE, for £10,000, plus costs.
Officers of the Town Council have advised that the Melville Hotel could not readily be converted into flats. It should either continue as an hotel or as an old people's home.
It is intended to negotiate with the Taunton (Defendamus) Housing Association for the hotel and small ornamental garden to be leased to them as an old people's home and centre.
This would replace the Centre at the Town Hall Buildings, which are to be demolished.
<NOTES: Mrs L. SHIRE is Laura Mary or Lora Mary HAKE daughter of Eli HAKE and Mary BOARD, married Arthur Alick or Arthur Alec SHIRE>