Listed town hall set for revamp

Westmorland and Furness Council said it wanted to make its facilities as "accessible as possible"

The facilities of a Grade II-listed town hall are set to be renovated under plans submitted by a council.

Westmorland and Furness Council said it wanted to start work on Kendal Town Hall's reception and interview rooms and increase accessibility for wheelchair and pushchair users.

Changes to the authority's buildings in Barrow and Penrith are also included in the proposals.

The council said it was talking to community groups who could be affected by the work at the town hall.

It includes creating a waiting space away from the reception area, greater privacy for those using interview rooms and more desk space for customers.

Councillor Peter Thornton said: "These improvements, alongside the relocation of staff from County Hall, will allow us to focus our efforts on serving customers from modern, efficient facilities and will do much to ensure officers and our services are as widely accessible as possible."

If approved, detailed design work would be carried out later in the year with physical work starting in 2025.

The authority said it was also seeking to carry out work on the ground floor of Barrow Town Hall and at Voreda House in Penrith.