Work is now complete on the £200,000 refurbishment of Maryport’s town hall.
The building will reopen on Monday, October 31 and an open door event will take place at the town hall on Wednesday, November 2 from 11am to 2pm. Everyone is welcome to come and have a look around, and to meet members of the Maryport regeneration team.
The building will accommodate Maryport Town Council and become a new base for the Maryport regeneration team from Allerdale Borough Council. The reopening also means residents will be able to book appointments to see Allerdale Borough Council customer services officers about their housing benefit or council tax queries.
Cumbria police will also have a presence in the building and officers say it will embed them in the community.
The exterior of the Georgian building, which began its life as the Cumberland Union Bank, has new paintwork, while windows which had been blocked up have been reinstated. The roof, render and windows have been repaired and an internal doorway widened to allow easier disabled access.
Inside, rooms have been remodelled to provide flexible office space and an accessible toilet on the ground floor has been installed for users of the building. The original coving and woodwork have been restored, and wood panelling replaced.
The interior design also celebrates Maryport’s past and its future. A bespoke glass mural featuring the Maryport skyline greets visitors at the main entrance, as well as forming part of its fire protection measures. A new piece of work by town artist Alan Roper will have its first showing in the building, and the Made in Maryport Cultural Consortium will be installing future creative exhibitions.
The building is owned by Allerdale Borough Council and leased, in part, to Maryport Town Council. The repairs and renovation work have been carried out through Maryport’s High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) initiative, funded by Historic England, Allerdale Borough Council and Sellafield Ltd.
Mike Johnson, leader of Allerdale Borough Council, said: “I’m really looking forward to seeing the doors of this building open once more. It’s not only a Maryport landmark – it’s a vital community resource.
“I’m so pleased we secured the funding to make this renovation happen. It’s an important part of our regeneration work in this great town.”
Neighbourhood policing inspector Scott Adams, of Cumbria police, said “We are pleased to have been given a space that we can use within the town hall. This will help us increase our visibility and accessibility to the Maryport community giving them a local space to speak to officers.
“Being embedded into the community with this space will help us to tackle local issues with our partners, prevent and detect crime and build relationships in the community.”
To book future appointments at Maryport Town Hall with any of the Allerdale Borough Council officers please call 0303 123 1702.
