Work to transform the historic Laverton Hall in Westbury could start as early as Christmas if a £105,000 loan can be secured by the building’s trust.

The Laverton Trust, the charitable organisation responsible for the building’s management and development, presented it’s plans to Westbury Town Council at an extraordinary meeting on Monday.

The first stage of plans, which were approved by the town council, will see the council offices moved to the former snooker hall, which was used by the Laverton Snooker Club, until it was evicted over the summer.

A lift will be installed to allow disabled people to get to the first floor.

Trust chairman Cllr Stephen Andrews is confident the trust will have secured a £105,000 loan from the Public Works Loan Board within the next two weeks, meaning construction, which will be carried out by Gregory Thain Ltd, will start around Christmas.

He said: “The work will cost about £94,000 but we need a bit more for furniture.

“We will also have a new electrical system, telephone system, and computer system, which can all be rolled out throughout the building.”

A project team will also be set up to decide what facilities will be included in the three empty offices on the ground floor of the Laverton.

“I want to change the perception of the Laverton to a community space that happens to house the town council.” Cllr Andrews added.