Council will move to revamped Dawley Town Hall

Great Dawley Parish Council agreed to move into Dawley Town Hall at its parish council meeting.

The council has been planning the move since the turn of the year and will move from its current base at Dawley House in Burton Street. It will remain in control of the building and will rent out the offices.

Councillor Shaun Davies, chairman of the parish council, said: "We have found a tenant who has expressed an interest in moving into our parish council offices.

"The parish council will hopefully be moving into Dawley Town Hall in October or November time."

The town hall has been empty after it closed in 2010 when tenants Telford Stage School became embroiled in a dispute over the rental agreement with Telford & Wrekin Council.

The two councils, along with Capgemini, have pledged £140,000 to renovate the hall.

The hall will be used as a base for the parish council and the large space will be used to host community events and groups.

Councillor Jane Pinter, vice chairman of the council, said: "This is wonderful news and protects Dawley Town Hall for a generation.

"The parish council takes its role in bringing about regeneration seriously."

A group called Friends of Dawley Town Hall has been set up to help look after the hall when it reopens.

The group is holding a meeting as it prepares for the opening of the hall.

Carole Fitzpatrick, secretary of the group, said: "Last year a significant number of local people came together to safeguard the future of Dawley Town Hall.

"The delays in development mean that we have not met for some time and now that work will soon commence we are hoping that everyone who came along before will come and join us again. We will also be delighted to welcome new members."

Dawley Regeneration Partnership has also appointed a project leader to oversee the regeneration work done to the building.

Paul Wolfe, of Dawley Regeneration Partnership, said: "We have been working co-operatively to ensure that the renovation we planned goes ahead in a way which provides opportunities for all members of our community.

"The town hall is an important building in Dawley and we aim to ensure that it remains for generations to come."