Ellesmere Market Hall entrance plans approved

The proposals, which will see the current side access of Ellesmere Market Hall enclosed, were approved by Shropshire Council planning officers after a number of supportive comments on the plans.

Altogether Ellesmere, which runs the town's market hall, put forward the plans last month which hope to provide some shelter for those leaving and entering the facility.

Planning officer Mark Perry said the hall, which is not a listed building, is within the conservation area and considered to be a non-designated heritage asset.

He said: "The proposed development is for an improvement to an existing town community facility.

"The hall is used by a variety of clubs some of which have written in support of the application.

"The existing door to the hall opens straight into the open causing loss of heat and drafts when people enter and leave the building causing the hall to be cold especially during the winter.

"It is considered that the principle of the small extension is acceptable subject to being of an appropriate design and scale."

Chairman of the group, Lincoln McMullan, said he hopes the improvements will also make the venue more marketable for different events and has previously said as much as £7,000 could be spent on improving the facility.

The approved plans will only affect the side entrance, not the large front doors. They will see the ramped entrance enclosed in a clay tile roof, horizontal timber cladding wall and a brick plinth to match the current building.

On the side, there will be two new windows, while the front would feature a new door.

The town's new Mayor, Ryan Hartley, said he was pleased to see the plans given permission.

He said: "We are also looking to do a similar thing to the Town Hall as well. It is important to have a double set of doors at the entrance as it really does help to keep the warm in the building.

"At the moment we have just got an open porch so we are looking to do something similar."

During the consultation stage, the plans were supported by MD Warriors, which uses the hall for martial arts sessions, Ellesmere Youth Project and Carole Hill, a tutor from North Shropshire College.

Christine Kros, instructor of the martial arts group, said she welcomed the idea mainly because of "safety reasons".

She said it meant the students would not be going straight outside, and also hoped it could improve heating conditions in the winter.

Meanwhile, Diane Harvey, of Ellesmere Youth Project, said it would be beneficial to keep the children in the new structure until a parent collects them, rather than having to allow them to walk up and down the street looking for their relatives.