Chiefs have agreed to spend an extra million pounds to replace the roof of Stalybridge Civic Hall.

At a meeting last month, Tameside councillors said they were ‘shocked’ by the amount, after it was revealed costs had soared following new surveys.

The bill for the works on the roof has more than tripled from the initial budget of £558,950, up to £1.7 million.

This means that council has to invest a further £1.138 million in the project.

Councillor Oliver Ryan, cabinet member for finance and economic growth, told a cabinet meeting that they remain ‘fairly shocked’ by the cost.

However, he added: “I think we remain firm that this is the absolute right thing to do in that we are committed to making sure this building will be back into positive use and repair for the people of Stalybridge for generations to come.”

Tameside council had carried out a survey on the historic Trinity Street building while it was preparing to bid for money from Heritage England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone fund.

According to the cabinet report, further surveys have revealed the roof of the building is currently ‘not fit for purpose’.

Further works are required than originally anticipated, including the replacement of roof lights and a health and safety system and new cast iron guttering.

Paul Smith, the council’s assistant director for strategic property said: “As members are aware, a major part of the work around Stalybridge is to redevelop and bring the town hall back into use.”

He told the meeting that following approval, the council would  instruct the design and tender of the work and listed building submission, and detailed programme to prepare a firm price with the view to entering into a contract.

The contract would then be brought back to the executive cabinet to agree, he added.

Dukinfield and Stalybridge Coun Eleanor Wills said: “I know that the additional expense has not been an easy consideration but I want to thank Councillor Ryan and the rest of his team for committing this investment into Stalybridge and into what I feel is the beating heart of the town.

“Obviously it’s right and proper that we remain sympathetic to the heritage of the building and invest in that way.”

Stalybridge was selected as Tameside’s focus for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s town centre challenge in 2018.

Chiefs are currently investigating whether the civic hall, which has not hosted a regular market for around two decades, could be re-imagined as a food hall in the style of Altrincham Market or Mackie Mayor’s in Manchester.

Council leader Brenda Warrington said: “We are all noting the additional expenditure associated with this need, likewise I think we all recognise that this is one of our heritage buildings in Tameside and we do want to see it able to be used as properly as one would expect.

“We are all very conscious of our financial situation in Tameside.

“I want to have conversations about the timescale and what I also want is to have conversations following those about anything that can be done as a temporary short term arrangement to allow the venue to be used as quickly as possible.”

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