Emergency repairs underway to stop Town Hall deteriorating

Emergency repairs are under way to stop a landmark Hereford building deteriorating.

Scaffolding has gone up in front of the Town Hall on St Owen Street for the work. But it will not go far in addressing the backlog of repairs and renovation the grade II* listed civic building needs.

“It’s emergency repairs – though we’ve known for years that there are leaks in the roof leading to dry rot above the parlour and minstrel gallery,” Coun Jeremy Milln, a city and county councillor, said.

He confirmed its owner Herefordshire Council is paying for the work. “But it’s not a huge sum compared with the total work identified as being needed, and it won’t affect its day-to-day running.”

A survey in 2019 for Herefordshire Council identified up to £1.8 million of repairs and maintenance required on the Edwardian building, which is the main home of Hereford City Council as well as housing some county functions, tourist information and a small museum.

In October Herefordshire Council agreed to try to sell the building to the city council, “or its appointee”, and the city is now trying to put together a trust to own and maintain it.

This would then be able to bid for external funding sources unavailable to either council. But if the plan falls through, it could still be sold on the open market next year.