Nice to see the tower crane with a big Clugston's sign standing tall over the baths getting ready for the next phase of construction. I know a lot of people have a bit of a downer on the Baths Hall reconstruction both architecturally and economically, but I must say I'm quite in favour of it. Scunthorpe needs a decent venue, and though I may be talking nostalgic rubbish, the Baths Hall has historically been a great place not just for a night out, but as a gateway to culture and entertainment in the town. I remember the first time I saw Shakespeare performed was at the Baths Hall, we were all taken along from school, to enjoy the delights of the Merchant of Venice. Hundreds of us school kids came in on buses from all over the area, which was a great way to introduce us all to a bit of culture. Following on from there I've seen several Shakespeare play performed around the country, but that first experience at the baths will always stick in my mind. Despite my melancholic and nostalgic ramblings I think that a town the size of Scunthorpe should have a good public venue and I hope that the management firm put in will not just look to attract musical acts but will also look to working with the council to develop and enhance the cultural experiences of school children in Scunthorpe by offering this kind of service again. It's not only acts and performances coming from outside the town, but shortly before the baths hall was closed I went to see my daughter singing there in the school choir, a choir which had been put together from all the primary schools in the area. This presents kids with an excellent opportunity to develop personal and social skills outside of the national curriculum, and I hope the completed venue will be made available for this kind of activity in the future. The new baths hall is designed to seat a capacity of 1,200 with 2,000 standing, and will consist of 3 floors and a basement. There will be bar and caf� facilities along with conference facilities to encourage use by local businesses. Its a shame that we have been without any decent facilities for so long, I'm sure readers will remind me how it was the Tories that closed it down and Labour who secured funding and organised the rebuild; but seriously politics and individual's aspirations aside, its an accomplishment the town should be proud of, and long may it stand.

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