WILTSHIRE Council's cabinet has approved an "exciting plan" to "extensively refurbish" Trowbridge Town Hall. 

The Grade II listed building is owned by the council and over the last 10 years has been run by the Trowbridge Town Hall Trust, an independent charity.

The building is going to be subject to extensive refurbishment and remodelling as part of the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) £16 million investment in Trowbridge.

Wiltshire Council says the project will "enable it to provide a greater capacity to hold events as well as a diverse programme of cultural and social activities". 

Cabinet has confirmed that the Trust are to be the end user of the Town Hall, when these works are complete, and will be granted a 125-year lease, to allow them to ensure sustainable use of the building in the long term.

The council will continue to work with the Trust to make sure they are in a position to be able to take over the building, ahead of the lease being granted.

Councillor Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “One of the key aims in our Business Plan is making sure our towns are resilient, ensuring our communities are able to grow sustainably with access to leisure, arts, heritage and culture. The refurbishment of Trowbridge Town Hall is central to developing a unique cultural offer in the town, encouraging increased footfall into the town centre and helping to revive Trowbridge’s poor evening economy.

“The Trust has exciting plans for the Trowbridge Town Hall’s future. By treating this landmark building as a community asset and transferring it on a long lease to a community organisation such as the Town Hall Trust will ensure that its future as a vibrant hub of activity in Trowbridge town centre is secure.

“I am delighted Cabinet have put the local community at the heart of its decision to support the long-term future of Trowbridge Town Hall in this way.”

The Trust’s Director, Alan Wright, added: “Today marks the culmination of a remarkable collaboration between a small but determined local community organisation, a little over ten-years-old, a pro-active town council, and a supportive unitary authority that understood the contribution a re-imagined Town Hall could make, not only stimulating the local economy but, also, becoming an exemplar for cultural and community activity throughout the region.

"We have already been recognised by the National Theatre as one of the most successful community arts organisations in the country, and we now look forward to making the Town Hall a venue the people of Trowbridge can be truly proud of.”

A public engagement event is being planned for the coming months so people can see the current refurbishment proposals.