MALTON Methodist Church has launched a survey on proposals for a new community hub in the historic building.

The church, in Saville Street, closed temporarily towards the end of 2015, due to a major structural issue discovered in the roof.

Following extensive investigations, the church now has a plan that would enable it to undertake the necessary repairs.

Paul Emberley, a spokesman for the church said: “We’re currently exploring how we could provide better facilities for our community and considering an exciting project to transform our large historic church building in Malton into a community hub that will be a resource for the whole town – young and old.”

“This issue focused the minds of the church, as before the problem with the roof was known, we’d been thinking carefully about how best we could put our cavernous and historic building to better use in the future.

"Six months on, we now have some outline plans that would see the Grade II building sympathetically transformed into a community hub for Malton.”

The plans would include:

• Permanent spaces for local charities to use, with a variety of multi-purpose rooms available.

• On the ground floor, an open gathering space, a multi-purpose space big enough to host a seated meal for up to 125 for an occasion, a reception for up to 275, or a place for exhibitions or divisible for smaller meetings and activities, for 25-100.

• A community café, a large professionally equipped catering kitchen, and an information point.

• On the first floor, a new state-of-the-art 300-seat auditorium which could host conferences, concerts, and public meetings – and this would double as a smaller worship space for the Church.

• Disabled friendly access to all areas, with appropriate facilities for those with special needs.

Paul said: “Malton and Norton are expanding rapidly, and by 2027, Malton’s population alone will have increased by around 50 per cent. By this time, the combined population of the two towns is expected to be in excess of 18,000 – the largest population centre of the district and home to a third of the entire population of Ryedale.

“We also believe that there’s a dearth of usable community space in our towns, especially space that’s attractive for charitable groups and smaller organisations to use."

He added: "We think our plans are very exciting, but they’re not yet set in stone. This would be a real investment in our community as a whole, and there are potential benefits for everyone, which is why we’re asking for specific views to help shape our proposals further.

“We believe our proposals have the potential to help fill an important need for such a Community Hub in our growing town. We’re appealing to everyone in Malton to tell us what they think.”

The survey can be found here: http://surveys.storia.co.uk/s3/maltonmethodist

A paper option is also available.

All the answers to the survey can be given anonymously. However, as a thank you for taking the time to complete the survey, if a name and contact details are provided, responses will be entered into a ‘thank you draw’ with the opportunity for three selected entries to receive up to £125 in Amazon Gift Cards. The survey closes at 5pm on Friday, June 24.

Further details of the current outline plans can be viewed at maltonmethodists.org/option-3-our-future/the-vision