Plans for town hall to be revamped into staff offices
10:10am Sunday 12th February 2012 in News
IT HAS been a focal point of the community and a hub of local democracy for more than a century.
And while Farnworth Town Hall may not return to its former use as a political centre, the corridors could soon be a hive of activity once again.
Bolton Council bosses have unveiled plans to refurbish the grade-twolisted building in Market Street so staff from the authority can be based there.
If Bolton planning committee grants permission, the traditional council chamber would be replaced with open plan offices.
A report to the council says: “The works are required to convert the existing accommodation, which is under-utilised and unsuitable for modern office use, into new modern and flexible office accommodation for use by council staff.
“The existing council chamber will be converted into a new open-place office.
“There will also be a new public entrance with visitors by appointment only.”
Engineers would upgrade the windows, fit double glazing, repair damaged brickwork and fit a new access ramp for disabled people.
Designed by Farnworth Council engineer W J Lomas, the hall was built by TE Coope for £10,000 and opened in 1909 after a grand civic ceremony.
For the previous 43 years, 22 council representatives had to squeeze into a room in Darley Street measuring 14ft by 30ft for their monthly meetings.
The town hall housed most of Farnworth Council’s staff and provided the town’s 18 local elected representatives with a council chamber, committee rooms and a mayor’s parlour.
The building staged council meetings until the mid 1980s when decision-making powers were transferred to Bolton.
It has since been used for community meetings and for Citizens Advice Bureau drop-in sessions.
One of the groups Bolton Council has consulted about the new scheme is Bolton and District Civic Trust. The group’s chairman Brian Tetlow, said: “This is very good news.
“It is great to see something positive happening with the building and I am sure it will be of great benefit to the people of Farnworth.”
The council has written to 32 neighbours to ask for their views on the plan.
People have until March 1 to take part in a consultation process and the committee is aiming to reach a decision by April 3.
