FURTHER details have emerged of the near £3m refurbishment of Chester's iconic grade ll* listed Victorian Town Hall.Š
The crumbling pile has disappeared behind scaffolding and sheets as contractors work to renew roofs, drainpipes and gutters, eroding stonework, and balustrades and rotten window frames.Š
Resources portfolio holder Cllr Adrian Walmsley (Con, Newton St Michael's) says repairs to the main tower roof, a semi-circular stained-glass window above the main stairs and the roof of the Assembly Room have also been added to the list.Š
The repairs are expected to take four weeks longer than anticipated to complete due to bad weather over the summer with scaffolding starting to come down towards the end of next March.Š
With the help of the town hall advisory committee, a detailed scheme has been drawn up for the interior of the building including the decoration of the first and second floors, the installation of a new passenger lift, improvements to the kitchen and the relocation of the first floor toilets.Š
Climate control in the council chamber and the assembly room, acoustics in the assembly room, redecoration throughout and new furniture and carpet for the council chamber are also being looked at.
The new lift requires “expert design” according to a report.Š
The city's Lord Mayor, presently Cllr Brian Bailey, is expected to occupy the temporary Man sion House in the cathedral precincts for longer than was expected and the council is planning to have to use alternative meeting rooms elsewhere for a longer period.Š
This includes accommodation at the Crown Plaza Hotel.Š
By the end of March 2010, it is estimated bills totalling £2,830,000 will have been run up of which £1,680,000 will have spent on the exterior of the town hall.Š
The new lift and its installation will cost £450,000.
