Westhoughton Town Hall works 'not possible' this summer

The £3.5M works to bring Westhoughton Town Hall back into use have been heavily trailed in recent years, with offices, a restaurant and café all proposed.

But last week Bolton Council heard how concerns are growing in the town about delays to the refurbishment works.

Cllr Deirdre McGeown, of Westhoughton North and Hunger Hill, said: “Westhoughton Town Hall has been the subject of debate for a number of years and the residents have concerns about the ongoing saga.”

She said that delays had been continuing to grow and asked what the current state of the building was.

Works to revamp the town hall have been highly anticipated (Image: Bolton Council)

Cllr McGeown also asked for assurances that there would be no further delays to the works.

The terracotta stone Grade II listed town hall on Market Street, Westhoughton, was first built in 1903 and has been at the centre of a long running debate about its future.

Around £3.5M in funding was granted by Bolton Council last year to refurbish the hall, with £1.5M coming from the District Centres Fund.

This same fund has also been used for projects in Farnworth, Horwich and Little Lever.

The £3.5M funding was allocated by council last year, with £1.5M coming from the District Centres Fund which is also delivering projects in Farnworth, Horwich and Little Lever.

In response to Cllr McGeown’s question, council cabinet member for regulatory services and property Cllr Sue Haworth said she had an update from the authority's regeneration team. 

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She said: “Progress has been made in terms of appointing a contractor to undertake the work to the building.

“However, this has to be done through a formal procurement route so as to procure contractors who are both willing and able to undertake this difficult but relatively low monetary value conversion.”

She added: “Officers have been working to secure a start in the summer but that has not been possible, and work is now anticipated to start in the autumn.”

Cllr Haworth said that officers would be willing to meet with ward and town councillors in Westhoughton once the plans were finalised.