21
|
1 <?xml version='1.0'?>
|
|
2 <?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../../../lib/xml/doc.xsl" ?>
|
|
3 <!DOCTYPE doc SYSTEM "../../../lib/xml/doc.dtd" >
|
|
4 <doc>
|
|
5 <head>
|
|
6 <title>Transcription of comments on 7VT Futures questionnaires</title>
|
|
7 <author>Henry S. Thompson</author>
|
26
|
8 <date>4 May 2009</date>
|
21
|
9 </head>
|
|
10 <body>
|
|
11 <div>
|
|
12 <title>Anon</title>
|
22
|
13 <list type="defn">
|
27
|
14 <item term="3">Improving with the reopening of the terrace.</item>
|
22
|
15 <item term="4">An alternative access [to the creche?] avoiding the kitchen
|
|
16 would help. Improve toilets.</item>
|
|
17 <item term="12">An alternative access to the rooms/space beyond the kitchen
|
|
18 would be good. This would improve kitchen safety and make the additional space
|
|
19 more usable for group use. Perhaps improvements to the toilets are needed.</item>
|
|
20 <item term="13">
|
|
21 <list type="ndivs">
|
|
22 <item>Improvements do have cost implications. Could we ask
|
|
23 Festival Committee to identify Meeting House improvements as one of the fund
|
|
24 raising projects (as we did for Kelso Meeting House & the Foyer upgrade)
|
|
25 over say 3 years.</item>
|
|
26 <item>The Meeting House is a great space, with flexibility having some larger
|
|
27 and smaller areas. The availability for outreach here is so important. A
|
|
28 window in the city and affordable lettings for groups that might find
|
|
29 alternatives difficult.</item>
|
|
30 <item>Thank you to the Friends who are reviewing these responses. Your time
|
|
31 and consideration is really valuable and appreciated.</item>
|
|
32 </list>
|
|
33 </item>
|
|
34 </list>
|
|
35 </div>
|
|
36 <div>
|
|
37 <title>Anne Davies, Sarah J. Davies</title>
|
|
38 <list type="defn">
|
|
39 <item term="2">[ticked 'Not important'] I.e. Haymarket area reasonable.
|
|
40 Suburbs accessible (from train/bus station)</item>
|
|
41 <item term="12"><list type="enum">
|
|
42 <item>Better access to building—almost impossible (steep hill/steps).</item>
|
|
43 <item>Improve bottle neck entrance to Foyer.</item>
|
|
44 <item>Improve access to loos—stairs v. tricky for elderly.</item>
|
|
45 <item>Cheerful, purpose built areas for children &
|
25
|
46 young people—i.e. for latter, Squashy sofas & their own 'den'.</item>
|
22
|
47 <item>Parking facilities for cars bringing elderly to
|
|
48 Meeting—imposs.</item>
|
|
49 <item>Bike shelter.</item>
|
|
50 </list></item>
|
|
51 <item term="13"><list type="enum">
|
|
52 <item>Let's start with this premise that we want the Meeting House to be a
|
|
53 place for: Meeting for Worship; A quiet centre; A refuge for all looking to worship.</item>
|
|
54 <item>Do we want to be tied, for the foreseeable future,
|
|
55 to income generation?</item>
|
|
56 <item>Is the building [therefore] too expensive to
|
|
57 maintain? Is this the bottom line?</item>
|
|
58 </list></item>
|
|
59 </list>
|
|
60 </div>
|
|
61 <div>
|
|
62 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
63 <list type="defn">
|
25
|
64 <item term="12">No suggestions/ideas</item>
|
|
65 <item term="13">Apart from considerable difficulty coping as a disabled (?)
|
|
66 and weekly [sic] member (Member) particularly the Library—for coffee and
|
|
67 the Hall similarly if I stay for lunch.</item>
|
|
68 </list>
|
|
69 </div>
|
|
70 <div>
|
|
71 <title>Marianne Ferguson Rice</title>
|
|
72 <list type="defn">
|
|
73 <item term="2">Essential in my view</item>
|
|
74 <item term="4">Mobility only considered here: Good, [but] the exceptions
|
|
75 are Room 5 and the Bow Room</item>
|
|
76 <item term="10">I think so</item>
|
|
77 <item term="12">Upgrading of the toilet facilities (especially the
|
|
78 men's)—essential. Might it be possible to provide a 2nd toilet
|
|
79 <emph>accessible</emph> on the ground floor, beside the existing one? Possibly
|
|
80 doing away with the existing sink and cupboards under it and moving the low
|
|
81 sink nearer the doorway into the passage? A toilet suitable for people with
|
|
82 mobility problems for general use on the 1st floor would be really helpful.</item>
|
|
83 <item term="13"><list type="ndivs">
|
|
84 <item>Perhaps double glazing would improve the use of the loop systems, at
|
|
85 present they are of little benefit to those of us with a T setting on our
|
|
86 hearing aids.</item>
|
|
87 <item>For visually impaired people a lot needs to be done
|
|
88 to assist them in moving around the building—please consult someone with
|
|
89 real knowledge of the subject.</item>
|
|
90 <item>In view of the downturn in lettings to outside
|
|
91 bodies, we may have to rethink the free use of the building by all Quaker
|
|
92 groups—I'll need to reconsider my pleadings for special cases for AVP
|
|
93 Scotland and CAAT.</item>
|
|
94 <item>I'd be interested to see a breakdown of the lettings
|
|
95 to: a) charitable & b) commercial organisations. From an ethical point of
|
|
96 view I'd hope to see a balance in favour of a), particularly smaller local
|
|
97 charities, but I recognise the need for the income b) can bring.</item>
|
|
98 <item>I'm just wondering if the constraints of Health
|
|
99 & Safety regulation are leading to a more formal, perhaps over-organised,
|
|
100 interior thus losing some of the informal, slightly more relaxed atmosphere?</item>
|
|
101 </list></item>
|
22
|
102 </list>
|
|
103 </div>
|
|
104 <div>
|
|
105 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
106 <list type="defn">
|
25
|
107 <item term="8">Not ideal to have food & drink in a library.</item>
|
27
|
108 <item term="12">I think it could be developed more explicitly as a community resource.</item>
|
22
|
109 </list>
|
|
110 </div>
|
|
111 <div>
|
|
112 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
113 <list type="defn">
|
25
|
114 <item term="7">Don't know</item>
|
|
115 <item term="10">Not sure</item>
|
|
116 <item term="12">If we keep the building, we need a longer term strategy for
|
|
117 its whole purpose. It may be that we need to look at alternative models for
|
|
118 management. E.g. one management committee for the building's supervision.
|
|
119 This would lead to a complete re-organisation of AM's committee structure.</item>
|
|
120 <item term="13">Q. 10: If we don't know how much the building is costing
|
|
121 us, how can we answer this question. Information should have been provided!</item>
|
|
122 </list>
|
|
123 </div>
|
|
124 <div>
|
|
125 <title>Alan Dickinson</title>
|
|
126 <list type="defn">
|
|
127 <item term="3">Progressively difficult, because of parking</item>
|
22
|
128 </list>
|
|
129 </div>
|
|
130 <div>
|
25
|
131 <title>John Phillips</title>
|
22
|
132 <list type="defn">
|
27
|
133 <item term="12">There are clearly minor improvements to be made, but the
|
25
|
134 building is not flexible nor can it be expanded (except by purchasing more
|
|
135 flats in 6 Upper Bow). Improving toilets will remove Room 5 (a useful small
|
|
136 committee or even teenagers room) from use. Improved access to creche area
|
|
137 would be good. Upgrading kitchen will be to be done one day, whatever we
|
|
138 decide about Festival use.</item>
|
|
139 <item term="13"><list type="ndivs">
|
|
140 <item>It is hard to make judgements based on present use since for the past ten
|
|
141 years our childrens' classes have been very much diminished. I guess this is
|
|
142 the "fault" of all of us, but it may well reverse one day, when we might be
|
|
143 glad of as many rooms as possible.</item>
|
|
144 <item>The building is not very user-friendly for outside
|
|
145 groups—it would be good if we could be as flexible as possible about
|
|
146 where people can eat in the building and where hot drinks and refreshments can
|
|
147 be served.</item>
|
27
|
148 <item>I can't see any chance that we could purchase an
|
25
|
149 equally good building using money raised by selling 7VT. Its wonderful
|
|
150 position in the city means we have to sacrifice some convenience—and lots
|
|
151 of money. Sorry!</item>
|
|
152 </list></item>
|
21
|
153 </list>
|
|
154 </div>
|
|
155 <div>
|
22
|
156 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
157 <list type="defn">
|
25
|
158 <item term="2">No so important to <emph>me</emph> but <emph>very</emph>
|
|
159 important to giving Quakers a high profile.</item>
|
27
|
160 <item term="10">[Don't know] I would need to have information to compare value
|
25
|
161 here with value somewhere comparable.</item>
|
|
162 <item term="13">The soup lunch is very important</item>
|
22
|
163 </list>
|
|
164 </div>
|
|
165 <div>
|
26
|
166 <title>Ann Forsyth</title>
|
22
|
167 <list type="defn">
|
26
|
168 <item term="12">All improvements possible have been carried out. However
|
|
169 its location and size are difficult for some. Very well managed.</item>
|
|
170 <item term="13">
|
|
171 <list type="ndivs">
|
27
|
172 <item>I am aware the its use as a festival & general hire
|
26
|
173 venue has provided valuable revenue. One may ask whether the needs for
|
|
174 adequate staffing & caretaking have meant, in more recent times, that the
|
|
175 revenue produced by the hiring pays for staffing and other costs associated
|
|
176 with hiring; and whether this activity, and its many call on Quaker time, is
|
|
177 best spent.</item>
|
|
178 <item>I am also questioning whether running a café over the
|
|
179 Festival period is best—or whether we should be allowing other
|
|
180 cafés to provide food; and restrict what we offer to drinks, homebakes,
|
27
|
181 and maybe a daily meal for staff, participants & others who would be
|
26
|
182 content with a restricted menu. Again, it comes down to the question of
|
27
|
183 whether all this effort is best spent, or whether others could do better,
|
26
|
184 allowing us to focus our energy on more "Quakerly" activities.</item>
|
|
185 </list>
|
|
186 </item>
|
22
|
187 </list>
|
|
188 </div>
|
|
189 <div>
|
|
190 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
191 <list type="defn">
|
26
|
192 <item term="12">I feel the Meeting House is managed exceedingly well</item>
|
|
193 <item term="13">I feel we would be totally unable to get another building
|
|
194 which would come anywhere near meeting our needs so well.</item>
|
22
|
195 </list>
|
|
196 </div>
|
|
197 <div>
|
|
198 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
199 <list type="defn">
|
26
|
200 <item term="12">I think it is just right as it is—the way I feel
|
|
201 about my own house!</item>
|
22
|
202 </list>
|
|
203 </div>
|
|
204 <div>
|
|
205 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
206 <list type="defn">
|
26
|
207 <item term="9">[Inadequate] Lay-out difficult</item>
|
|
208 <item term="12">Option to switch off lift safety announcement during
|
|
209 meeting for worship.</item>
|
22
|
210 </list>
|
|
211 </div>
|
|
212 <div>
|
|
213 <title>Tony Peach</title>
|
|
214 <list type="defn">
|
27
|
215 <item term="12">Improvement of toilet facilities if funds allow.</item>
|
22
|
216 <item term="13">
|
|
217 <list type="ndivs">
|
25
|
218 <item>The Meeting House, as you see from my answers above, ticks
|
22
|
219 all the boxes for me. I see no reason to move and many to stay. I think it
|
|
220 extremely unlikely we could find a better centre and would be best
|
|
221 concentrating on realising how lucky we are to have it.</item>
|
|
222 <item>If finance is thought to be the main problem, maybe more efforts could
|
|
223 be concentrated on
|
|
224 <list type="enum">
|
|
225 <item>helping the Managers to maximise rentals;</item>
|
|
226 <item>considering more fund-raising for future major financial outlay.</item>
|
|
227 </list>
|
|
228 </item>
|
|
229 </list>
|
|
230 </item>
|
|
231 </list>
|
|
232 </div>
|
|
233 <div>
|
|
234 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
235 <list type="defn">
|
|
236 <item term="12">Can't think of any.</item>
|
|
237 <item term="13">Seems perfect in every way.</item>
|
|
238 </list>
|
|
239 </div>
|
|
240 <div>
|
25
|
241 <title>Alan Davies</title>
|
|
242 <list type="defn">
|
|
243 <item term="13">Because the Meeting House is large & central, it is
|
|
244 costly to maintain & to run. This has two consequences: the
|
|
245 commercialisation of activities such as lettings & the rise of the
|
|
246 managerial staff. I do not think it important for the Mtg. House to be in the
|
|
247 centre of the city. Furthermore, the Meeting is now so large in numbers that
|
27
|
248 MforW can be overburdened with ministry & individuals can be lost. I would
|
25
|
249 suggest we consider splitting the Meeting in two & finding locations away
|
|
250 from the city centre.</item>
|
|
251 </list>
|
|
252 </div>
|
|
253 <div>
|
22
|
254 <title>Annie Miller</title>
|
|
255 <list type="defn">
|
|
256 <item term="3">Difficult at the moment, because the terrace is closed</item>
|
|
257 <item term="12"><list type="ndivs">
|
|
258 <item>Upgrade toilets</item>
|
|
259 <item>More time available for Quaker committees & other
|
|
260 Quaker groups</item>
|
|
261 </list></item>
|
|
262 <item term="13">I would like us to consider 7VT as a contact point for all
|
|
263 Quakers & attenders in Scotland, with an office for GM, maybe?</item>
|
|
264 </list>
|
|
265 </div>
|
|
266 <div>
|
21
|
267 <title>Penny (?) Holland</title>
|
22
|
268 <list type="defn">
|
21
|
269 <item term="12">[Keep?] given slots for Quaker events e.g. funerals/weddings one
|
|
270 Saturday afternoon per month free in Meeting Room for such
|
|
271 opportunity—even if it means losing income.</item>
|
|
272 <item term="13">Certainly think Victoria Terrace is <emph>the best
|
|
273 option</emph> in spite of need for forward (?) 'upgrading' etc.</item>
|
|
274 </list>
|
|
275 </div>
|
|
276 <div>
|
|
277 <title>Rachel Frith</title>
|
22
|
278 <list type="defn">
|
21
|
279 <item term="3">Access will be excellent soon I hope when building at end of terrace is finished</item>
|
|
280 <item term="12">Toilets</item>
|
|
281 </list>
|
|
282 </div>
|
|
283 <div>
|
|
284 <title>Gill Reid</title>
|
22
|
285 <list type="defn">
|
21
|
286 <item term="12">I think the building is managed well and feedback from
|
|
287 people I know who use it and are not Quakers is good.</item>
|
27
|
288 <item term="13">No home for any organisation is going to be perfect but this
|
21
|
289 suits our needs.</item>
|
|
290 </list>
|
|
291 </div>
|
|
292 <div>
|
|
293 <title>Alastair Reid</title>
|
22
|
294 <list type="defn">
|
21
|
295 <item term="12">
|
22
|
296 <list type="ndivs">
|
21
|
297 <item>Some way that Friends could find out about the groups that use it.</item>
|
|
298 <item>More devolution of decision-making to assistant managers if possible.</item>
|
27
|
299 <item>Noticeboards—much improved lately—However could there be
|
|
300 a small notice somewhere that says what is where.</item>
|
21
|
301 <item>DO we have a leaflet etc. on hiring?</item>
|
27
|
302 <item>Is there some way small rooms could be more easily booked (often
|
21
|
303 seems to be full)</item>
|
|
304 </list>
|
|
305 </item>
|
|
306 <item term="13">
|
22
|
307 <list type="ndivs">
|
21
|
308 <item>Readers guides to topics of books/pamphlets in library e.g.
|
|
309 silence, intro to Quaker writings, beginners, Peace testimony, environmental
|
|
310 testimony, Meeting for Worship, prayer etc. etc.</item>
|
|
311 <item>I hope that we do not move/sell in the near future—we need an
|
22
|
312 affordable central base—movement elsewhere could be expensive and not
|
21
|
313 necessarily of benefit to Qs & the wider community.</item>
|
|
314 </list>
|
|
315 </item>
|
|
316 </list>
|
|
317 </div>
|
|
318 <div>
|
|
319 <title>Anon</title>
|
22
|
320 <list type="defn">
|
21
|
321 <item term="12">
|
|
322 <list type="enum">
|
|
323 <item>Toilet facilities need upgrading;</item>
|
|
324 <item>Children need a space
|
|
325 that <emph>does not</emph> require access through the Kitchen—this is
|
|
326 dangerous and makes a mockery of Health/Safety Regs;</item>
|
|
327 <item>Priority must be given to Quaker Groups.</item>
|
|
328 </list>
|
|
329 </item>
|
|
330 <item term="13">
|
|
331 <list type="enum">
|
|
332 <item>Radical changes need to be made with regard to
|
22
|
333 Library/Kitchen/Children—It is impossible to cater for groups when access to
|
21
|
334 the Kitchen is unavailable when the Library is in use. It is inefficient and
|
27
|
335 unsafe for staff/users—particularly children.</item>
|
21
|
336 <item>The running costs of the building are astronomical. Although I am
|
|
337 in favour of remaining in the building, it might be preferable to find more
|
|
338 'affordable' premises.</item>
|
|
339 <item>The costs of staffing/managing the building are high because the
|
|
340 building is inefficient to run. How do we find a way of upgrading the building
|
27
|
341 with increasing running costs without it simply becoming a costly venue for
|
21
|
342 external groups?</item>
|
|
343 <item>Too much energy is being expended on hiring out the building.</item>
|
|
344 <item>A Quaker Meeting House should be for use by Quakers and community groups.</item>
|
|
345 </list>
|
|
346 </item>
|
|
347 </list>
|
|
348 </div>
|
26
|
349 <div>
|
|
350 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
351 <list type="defn">
|
|
352 <item term="12">Toilets are a bit feeble</item>
|
|
353 </list>
|
|
354 </div>
|
|
355 <div>
|
|
356 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
357 <list type="defn">
|
|
358 <item term="8">[Adequately] Library gets too crowded at coffee time</item>
|
|
359 <item term="12">{Update toilets; Update kitchen} essential if we are to
|
|
360 continue letting rooms at commercial rates</item>
|
|
361 <item term="13">Do we need to think about how the MH is used? Could it be
|
|
362 used in a different way? Could finance be generated in different ways? e.g.
|
|
363 Cafe downstairs where the foyer is.</item>
|
|
364 </list>
|
|
365 </div>
|
|
366 <div>
|
|
367 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
368 <list type="defn">
|
|
369 <item term="10">[Don't know] Probably <emph>yes</emph>.</item>
|
|
370 <item term="12">The Meeting Room is a wonderful and light space with a good
|
|
371 atmosphere. But the acoustics are dreadful—a lot of echo, and the loop
|
|
372 system picks up the sound from the street which masks the speaker's words.</item>
|
27
|
373 <item term="13">The location is very good, and probably outweighs the
|
26
|
374 awkwardness of its internal structure. The committee has done a very good job
|
|
375 in making the most of its potential, and the welcoming wardens and staff are
|
|
376 excellent—the human element is <emph>most</emph> important. The window
|
|
377 displays are attractive & informative.</item>
|
|
378 </list>
|
|
379 </div>
|
|
380 <div>
|
|
381 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
382 <list type="defn">
|
|
383 <item term="12">Perhaps more bench seating—the chairs are not
|
|
384 particularly comfortable.</item>
|
|
385 <item term="13">I hope the Festival activity continues with continued
|
|
386 creativity and success.</item>
|
|
387 </list>
|
|
388 </div>
|
|
389 <div>
|
|
390 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
391 <p>I don't feel qualified to answer these questions. I don't know enough.
|
27
|
392 I love this building, what it offers Quakers & other communities & esp.
|
26
|
393 the quality of air & light in the meeting room. But I don't think we
|
|
394 should spend most of our money on a building. There are much more important
|
|
395 things than buildings. We could do what some churches do and hire space weekly
|
|
396 for meeting.</p>
|
|
397 </div>
|
|
398 <div>
|
|
399 <title>Elisabeth Carnall</title>
|
|
400 <list type="defn">
|
|
401 <item term="2">[Very important] Good public transport <emph>vital</emph>,
|
|
402 especially when Terrace is open again</item>
|
|
403 <item term="4">[Good] Loos up and down stairs.</item>
|
|
404 <item term="8">[Hall: very well; Library: well] Library can't be quiet place.</item>
|
|
405 <item term="12">I would like to be less conscious of rules and regulations.
|
|
406 The MH has felt less like home under the new Health & Safety requirements.
|
|
407 I don't feel the need to enhance the display of Quaker materials. I am happy
|
|
408 to see evidence of other users of the building.</item>
|
|
409 <item term="13">
|
|
410 <list type="ndivs">
|
27
|
411 <item>I have felt cut off from the Meeting House while the Terrace has been
|
26
|
412 closed as <emph>going up & along & down</emph> to my bust stop has been
|
|
413 tedious for a slow walker. Sometimes I have walked to Bridges buses. Or to
|
|
414 Princes Street ones. I miss the 35 (& 1) which used to stop in the
|
27
|
415 Lawnmarket. <emph>But</emph> I would deplore the idea of a suburban location,
|
|
416 'convenient for parking'.</item>
|
26
|
417 <item>Before we chose this building, when we were looking, we said we
|
27
|
418 wanted a building that "wouldn't just be a Sunday building." It has been
|
26
|
419 gratifying that our MH has been well used by a very wide variety of groups. I
|
|
420 hope this will pick up again when the Terrace re-opens.</item>
|
|
421 <item>I have been very sorry to hear that a very long-standing tenant,
|
|
422 using the building several days in the week [?has left?]. This is unfortunate
|
|
423 both for us and for her. I can't imagine going to art classes in the Central
|
|
424 Halls.</item>
|
|
425 <item>I think that as a city much visited it is valuable to have a meeting
|
|
426 house at the centre, highly visible. Making the MH part of the Festival has
|
|
427 made us part of the community & superb <emph>outreach</emph>.</item>
|
|
428 </list></item>
|
|
429 </list>
|
|
430 </div>
|
|
431 <div>
|
|
432 <title>Geoffrey Carnall</title>
|
|
433 <list type="defn">
|
|
434 <item term="12">On the whole the Wardening is friendly & welcoming, and
|
|
435 it's very important to remember that this needs to be a primary concern.</item>
|
|
436 <item term="13">I do think the meeting house is <emph>superb</emph> for
|
|
437 outreach. Tommy Sheridan kneeling in from of a window to read <emph>Quaker
|
|
438 News</emph>. The work of Venue 40 in the Festival is magnificent. I always
|
27
|
439 feel guilt in that for me the Peace & Justice Centre has to take priority.
|
26
|
440 Sed non omnia possumus omnes.</item>
|
|
441 </list>
|
|
442 </div>
|
|
443 <div>
|
|
444 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
445 <list type="defn">
|
|
446 <item term="12">Sometimes the room booking procedure is inflexible &
|
|
447 not user friendly. Also "welcome" is not always friendly on days other than
|
|
448 Sunday. The loop in the Meeting Room is not effective and many people can't hear.</item>
|
|
449 <item term="13">I think it is very important that V.T. is used as a
|
|
450 community resource for 3rd sector and campaigning groups. It is also essential
|
|
451 that the Quaker Meeting is centrally located and visible to the wider
|
|
452 communities in Edinburgh and visitors.</item>
|
|
453 </list>
|
|
454 </div>
|
|
455 <div>
|
|
456 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
457 <list type="defn">
|
27
|
458 <item term="12">Could coffee not be upstairs in a short break in a meeting,
|
26
|
459 with a cold water filled urn&then heating water for tea & coffee <emph>?</emph></item>
|
|
460 </list>
|
|
461 </div>
|
|
462 <div>
|
|
463 <title>Anon</title>
|
|
464 <list type="defn">
|
|
465 <item term="12">I feel it is managed very well at all times.</item>
|
|
466 </list>
|
|
467 </div>
|
21
|
468 </body>
|
|
469 </doc>
|