Bradford on Avon town council will borrow £300,000 for hall revamp (From Wiltshire Times)

Bradford on Avon town council will borrow £300,000 for hall revamp

10:07am Wednesday 31st October 2012 in Bradford By Craig Jones

Bradford on Avon Town Council has agreed to borrow £300,000 from the Secretary of State through the Wiltshire Association of Local Councils with the funds going towards the makeover of St Margaret’s Hall.

The motion was approved during Tuesday’s monthly meeting which took place in the council offices next to the hall.

As part of the project, estimated to cost around £775,059, the hall will see its existing stage removed, with a new changing area being introduced along with raised retractable seating for 200 people.

There will also be a new mezzanine level, as well as a wheelchair entrance to the hall and improved ventilation and lighting.

Town councillor Isabel Martindale said: “We can not stand still, we have to be aggressive as a town council and we need that money to take this project forward.”

The town council has around £420,000 in the rolling capital funds, as well as £48,000 in the St Margaret’s Hall maintenance budget, which could go towards the project while current user groups may also be asked to contribute.

The renovation work will be carried out between April and December 2013 and during that time groups and societies who use the facility will have to find temporary homes.

During the meeting, town councillors also said they’d be keen to hear from workmen in Bradford on Avon who’d be keen to carry out some of the work on the hall.

Anyone interested can contact the town council on 01225 864240.