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The Forum project
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This project is to replace the existing library and museum room with a new building. This building will be a new library, a museum telling the Castleford story and more, such as an exhibition space.
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This is a community project with inputs from local groups such as the Friends of Castleford Library, the Castleford heritage Trust and the Civic Trust. The community have asked that the facade of the library and the next door former market hall be retained, and as a result the architects have left these in.
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The council are committing funding to the project, and the rest is hoped to come from lottery funds and the private sector.
A public consultation has been held regarding the plans for the building. Initial findings suggest most people are in favour. A planning application is expected to be submitted soon.
Castleford as a town suffered a lot in recent decades by the closure and downsizing of industries. It appeared to have lost its hope for the future. Now, things are looking up and there is a new optimism. Yet, the town centre seems not ot have caught up with this. The Forum will be visual icon to the town's new optimism.
Xscape at Glass Houghton is among the country's top attractions both fee paying and free. The Forum could attract a lot of this many number of visitors to the Town Centre.
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