Whitchurch Town Council has announced the latest news on the refurbishment of the Town Hall.
Plans for refurbishment
The Queen Anne Listed Building has required work for a number of years. A recent Planning Application was approved for the refurbishment with plans including the installation of a lift, accessible toilet facilities and changes to the internal layout.
Funding
The costs for the extensive works are to come from s106 (developer provided) funding of which there is £175,119. It is hoped the remainder will be obtained by grants.
Councillors Andy Klemz, John Wall and Tracy Woodruff have been appointed as a Steering Group to “oversee the refurbishment work of the renovation project from obtaining the funds, reviewing tenders and overseeing the contract.”
A historic building with an extensive history
The Town Hall is a Grade II* Listed Building, being built in 1791 during the reign of Queen Anne. It has been home for several uses including for the Mechanics Institute and Reading Society, a shelter for Military Units passing through Whitchurch and in 1919 for the National Federation of Discharged Soldiers and Sailors.
The National Fire Service has been stationed in the building and more recently the Midland Bank, later the HSBC, used the downstairs area. One lesser claim to fame was that when HSBC were present it was said to have the lowest ATM in the UK which may have caused a few backaches when withdrawing cash.
Since 1972 it has been used by the Town Council. The Chamber which is used for meetings contains a number of historic items including the large bell from the time when it was the Fire Station, tapestries, paintings and a model of the town.
It is managed by the Whitchurch Town Hall Trust which consists of the 12 Whitchurch Town Councillors.