Future developments
A few years ago, the regulations about disabled access to public buildings were changed. Anyone who has been inside Touchstone, or even looked at our main entrance on a photograph, will know that Touchstone is not in the slightest bit disabled-friendly with steep steps up to the front door and a spiral staircase to all but the reception and Blue Rooms.
As a result, Touchstone had to start thinking about their premises and whether anything could be done to modify their current premises at Merton Road to accomodate these changes or whether it was time to look elsewhere. Investigations at the time suggested it wasn't practical to modify 32 Merton Road without virtually dismantling it and starting again, so they started looking elsewhere. Fast forward a few months and it appeared that Touchstone would be moving in with Great Horton Methodist Church as part of an extension and redevelopment of their premises. Fast forward again to Spring 2009 and it became clear that the Great Horton project wasn't going to happen any time soon due to delays and yet more delays at their end. At this point Touchstone put their discussions on hold until their new Team Leader, Rev Dr Barbara Glasson, arrived in August to include her thoughts and visions in the planning.
Following discussions and visits to other premises, the idea to redevelop the existing premises at Merton Road was revisited, this time with an open mind on what could be done and what might be necessary to achieve their new visions, and a grand scheme to extend and redevelop Touchstone's current premises was borne.
As at April 2010, plans have been submitted for planning permission, which include a lift serving all four floors (basement to attic), a level ground-floor entrance, larger and better-organised office spaces, bigger meeting room(s) with accessible toilets nearby and a bedouin tent (?!?) on the top floor.
As the recent Annual Review says: "Watch this space...."