A major step towards the renovation of Huntingdon’s historic Town Hall was reached last week as the project was awarded to contractors Coulsons.

Huntingdon Town Councillors approved the allocation of �890,000 for the project and agreed to award Coulsons the contract at a finance committee meeting.

Councillors then stepped outside with Graham Watts of Coulsons for a photo shoot in front of the 18th century building.

Essential repair work, including renewing the hall lighting, re-pointing the roof parapets and replacing the toilets, is needed before the building can be brought into use.

Plans are also in place to install a lift and transfer the town council offices into the hall, though proposals to create a caf� in the former court rooms of the hall have been abandoned for now. Scaffolding will be set up at the site on October 17.

Eight large oil paintings and two smaller ones will then be removed from the council chamber before so restoration work can begin inside.

nPictured are Cllrs Susan Mulcahy, Patrick Kadewere, deputy mayor Raj Subhan, finance committee chairman John Skerry, Coulsons consultant Graham Watts, mayor Alan Mackender-Lawrence and town crier Fred Carter.