More time and money needed for Ossett clock tower repairs

Ossett Town Hall served as a civic centre, magistrates' court and offices for Ossett Borough Council until 1974

Repairs to a town hall clock tower have been approved to prevent the building becoming "structurally unsound".

Steel beams at Ossett Town Hall in Wakefield were found to be corroded during a structural assessment.

The discovery was the latest setback for the restoration of the Grade II-listed building, which has seen costs more than double to £3m.

Work to restore the roof, clock tower and stonework had been due to be completed by the end of last year.

In December, Wakefield Council approved a new listed building consent application to carry out more restoration work after a number of defects, including rotting timbers, were found.

A further application then had to be submitted after the damage to the steel beams was also discovered, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Ossett Town Hall has been covered in scaffolding since 2022

The latest application was approved by the local authority on 24 April.

A council conservation officer said: "Without the strengthening works, the fabric of the building will deteriorate further, becoming more structurally unsound and an increased health and safety risk.

"It is important the building is maintained and repaired in an appropriate manner so it is safe and can be enjoyed by present and future generations."

The officer said the work was acceptable and would "preserve the integrity" of the 124-year-old building.

The building, on Market Place, has been surrounded by scaffolding since August 2022.

The work, which also includes relocating Ossett's library from the ground floor to the first floor, is now expected to be completed this summer.