Town hall renovation costs soar

THE cost of the renovation work currently underway to Thame Town Hall is soaring, after it was discovered that the building is in a worse state than was previously thought before the scaffolding went up and a closer examination could be made.

Structural archwork above a window at the front of the building needs urgent attention at an estimated cost of £12,000, as well as rotten window frames at the top floor level needing repair – and a crumbling stone ball on the clock tower was found not to be attached! Also, old street lighting fixed to the building, which will be completely removed, has created water damage.

In total, the work will cost an extra £28,373 which, unless the town council can get from South Oxfordshire District Council, it will have to fund itself out of general reserves.

Speaking at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, Cllr Nigel Champken Woods remarked: “We don’t have a lot of choice but to have the work done. It’s a shame we didn’t let Oxfordshire County Council have it as a library a few ago, then we wouldn’t have this problem.”