Kendal Town Hall Refurbishment Plans Deferred Amid Council Criticism

Plans by a council to renovate a historic town hall have been suspended after the proposals were described as “appalling” and “alien” by its members. Specifically, Westmorland and Furness councillors postponed a listed building consent application concerning proposed work at Kendal Town Hall in Cumbria. The proposed scheme involved installing “acoustic interview pods” within the council chamber and adapting the adjacent Bindloss Room for meeting purposes. Rupert Audland, a member of the planning committee, characterized the plan as “an aberration,” stating: “Our whole historical past is disappearing at a rate of knots. I do think we need to question what we’re up to as a council, it’s shocking to me.” The renovation project for the Grade II listed building was designed to offer “better spaces” where members of the public could meet with officers and councillors. Nevertheless, members of the South Lakeland Local Area Planning Committee decided to defer the plans, requesting additional information regarding their design and aesthetic. According to a planning statement, the listed building application pertained to “for minor refurbishment works” intended to complement the current building and its interior design. Kendal Town Council raised objections to the application submitted by the Liberal Democrat-led unitary authority, asserting that the proposed alterations were “not in keeping” with the building’s historical character. The council stated: “The designs are alien to the early 20th Century ambience of the town council chamber, and do not enhance the setting of the arts and crafts fireplace, or of the town hall’s historic art collection.” The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that worries were also expressed regarding potential difficulties for community groups to access the building. Audland, a Liberal Democrat, further commented: “I’m struggling to find the words here, the idea of filling up Kendal Town Council’s chamber with plastic pods, moveable, immoveable, is appalling.” He continued: “We already have nowhere to go when we have meetings, we’re struggling to find private spaces, this will make it worse. It’s another full-size council chamber that’s just going to disappear off the map.”