WESTHOUGHTON Town Hall is set to close next month as refurbishment work starts on a £2m project seen as ‘vitally important’ to the town centre.

Work is due to start on November 1 at the site with the building likely to be closed for at least three months.

At a full council meeting, Westhoughton North and Chew Moor councillor Andrea Finney used her maiden speech to ask about progress on the scheme.

She said: “Westhoughton Town Hall is a landmark building in the heart of town centre. Once refurbished, the works will enhance the Market Street building to ensure that it can continue to act as an important base for local services over the years to come. £2M was put aside for investment and to improve the town hall.

“Can we have an update on the progress so far on the refurbishment, as this is a vitally important scheme for the town and its residents?”

Cllr Adele Warren, regeneration cabinet member, said some work would start in November and that programme management company PSP had been appointed to plan and deliver further improvements to the building and the nearby Carnegie library.

She said: “The council has appointed PSP in an advisory role, to provide the initial options appraisal for the whole of the town hall building including the library.

“This will take into account the future maintenance cost of existing building, opportunities to add commercial income and how the community can benefit.

“A preferred option will then be agreed with the steering committee and myself.

“Works on the council chamber are due to start from November 1 and will take approximately three months.

“The work includes a glazing upgrade, new LED lighting, heating related pipe work and work such as asbestos removal.”

Cllr Warren added that for health and safety reasons the town hall would have to closed for this period.

She said the council was seeking an alternative accommodation for the town clerk and the town council during the closure period.