Dry rot setback

2:29pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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DRY rot has been discovered in Malmesbury Town Hall just as builders were about to tackle one of the last major tasks before it re-opens to the public.

The damage was revealed when plaster was pulled off a wall ready for a new staircase to be fitted.

Project board leader John Lawton told the Standard: "As far as we are aware at the moment it is confined to a very small portion of the rear of the council chamber."

He said experts had been called in and investigations were being carried out over the next week.

The delay is one of a series of hiccups to have plagued the project since work started last year. Originally the aim was to complete the first phase by March 31. But although it is hoped the tourist information office will be back in action sometime in the next few days, the building is still not officially open.

"Given the problems we found within the building, such as the rear wall being held up by the floor of the room above it is not much of a delay, "said Cllr Lawton.

"Parts of the building are 250 years old. It was never going to be a smooth ride. It was a bit of a blow to hear about the dry rot, but the building has received 35 years or neglect from its previous owners and we are just now reaping that reward."

There have also been teething problems with the lift and the electric doors. "As a client we will not accept the building back until these things have been fixed."

Some parts of the original scheme, including access to the rear of the stage, have been put on the backburner to prevent the project going £20,000 over budget. But Cllr Lawton said they would be tackled when money became available.

However he stressed: "What we have got now is a building that is an asset to the town and that is owned by the town. I think it will completely change the face of community activities in Malmesbury."