A NEW lift and toilet facilities are the subject of the first plans to be submitted by Uttoxeter Town Council for their proposed improvements at the town hall.
Town councillors announced in November it was to abandon talks with East Staffordshire Borough Council (ESBC) on a joint redevelopment of the historic grade II listed building.
Instead it decided to fly solo with its own simpler redevelopment plans costing £100,000 which was added to the council’s budget for 2012/13.
The plans for the internal alterations to the building have now been submitted to ESBC for approval.
A planning statement written by the project architects Montague Architects Ltd to ESBC said: “Proposals for a more extensive scheme were approved by your council in 2009.
“The current scheme is very much reduced and concentrates on enhancing and improving existing facilities.
“This work essentially involved the removal of the existing WC accommodation accessed from the left of the entrance hall (to be replaced by new WC accommodation).
“The work in this area will enhance the civic status of the building by providing great improvements to the WC a c c o m m o d a - tion.” On the subject of the new lift the architects said: “The proposal includes the provision of a lift set on the north side of the main inner entrance hall.
“Access from the hall at ground level is achieved by the formation of a new semi-circular arched opening.
“The lift entrance is set back from the opening, forming a small lobby off which a new disabled toilet is to be constructed.” The plans for the lift will see one of the town hall offices reduced ‘significantly’ in size, therefore it is proposed to divide the large first floor office into two to make up for that.
The architects also make clear that making the venue more accessible for visitors is the primary reason for the plans.
It said: “The main emphasis of the scheme concentrates on providing and improving access for disabled visitors to ensure that Uttoxeter’s most significant civic building is accessible to as many visitors as possible and will continue to promote Uttoxeter Town Hall as a function venue well into the future.” Talking about the plans, Councillor Hugh Montgomery, chairman of community projects at the town council, said: “For the first time ever we will soon have a town hall that is accessible to everyone on all floors.
“The installation of a lift not only enables the council to comply with its legal obligations under discrimination laws but brings it into the 21st century.” A decision on the plans is due in March.
