Disappointment over scaled-back tower revamp

Steve Coltman said reduced access to Carillon Tower was disappointing

Scaled-back plans to upgrade Loughborough's Carillon Tower and museum will leave visitors disappointed, a volunteer group said.

The 101-year-old building in Queen's Park hosts a military museum and is a memorial to the town's war dead.

Charnwood Borough Council said access to the upper floors would be restricted following the work due to modern fire safety standards.

Loughborough Carillon Tower and War Memorial Museum secretary, Steve Coltman, said the decision would leave a "stream of disappointment".

Mr Coltman said the tower was a "very rare" example of a bell tower, which played an intricate set of chimes and hosted a range of military memorabilia.

When it closed in September last year, Mr Coltman said £250,000 had been earmarked for the project by Charnwood Borough Council from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Carillon Tower, in Queen's Park, is currently closed to visitors

However, the council confirmed last week that £100,000 would go towards the revamp and that public access to the top of the tower would be restricted.

Mr Coltman said: "They had a big exhibition at the town hall saying this is what we're going to do. We're going to revamp all three floors.

"And now they've dropped this bombshell.

"We will have a stream of visitors who say they want to go up, and we have to tell them no.

"There is going to be a stream of disappointment."

Charnwood Borough Council, which is looking at ways to retain some form of access to the upper floors, perhaps through organised visits, said public safety was paramount.

The building will remain closed until the work is completed.

Exploring alternative options

A council spokesperson said: "When considering fire safety and the fact the building only has a single narrow staircase, it is unlikely it would gain permission to operate over several floors without significant alterations.

"As it is a Grade II-listed building and the town's war memorial, the council feels it is unlikely these alterations could be done without damaging the character of the building, and any alterations themselves may not be given permission.

"Therefore, we are exploring with the museum trust alternative ways to continue to allow some public access to the upper floors."

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