Crunch hits hall revamp

A £400,000 project to revamp Wem Town Hall has been delayed due to technical problems, it emerged today.

Work to refurbish and restore it was due to be completed in time for opening in September, but that date has now been pushed back to October.

The 20-week building project is due to get under way next month.

Sue Gainsborough, lead officer for the Wem Town Hall project, said the delay was "a sign of the times" and they were having to be extra cautious when looking at contractors because of the current economic climate.

She said more information would be available about the building timetable in early June and a special event to tell people about all the services the hall could provide would be held in September.

"We are holding an information event at the town hall on June 3 at 7.15pm just to talk through how the building work will impact on immediate neighbours.

The work is due to start in June and will be over by October rather than September now," she said.

The project has been funded by a Rural Regeneration Zone, part of Advantage West Midlands.

Once opened the hall, which closed in April 2005, will be used as a community hub for school events, community and social functions.