Repairs at Portrush Town Hall to cost £182k

Members of Council’s Environmental Services Committee heard last Tuesday night that the work needed done ‘urgently’ and that the project put forward was a ‘good value project’.

John Richardson, Head of Capital Project told members that the building had been subject to ‘extreme weather conditions’ because of it’s coastal location. He outlined the work that needed to be carried out, and said that the project had been identified in the Capital Works programme as a ‘key project’. He told members that the last work was carried out back in 2005, but it was funded by the heritage lottery. Members agreed to the £182,000 spend, but many raised concerns about the costs involved.

UUP Alderman William King said: “We all recognise that Portrush Town Hall needs this work, but it must be done by a company that has carried out work on historic buildings,” he said.

UUP councillor Joan Baird described the work as a ‘big expense to our Council’, but she added: “This is a landmark building, and we need to keep it in order.”

PUP councillor Russell Watton also agreed that the work was required, but questioned how well used the facility was. Responding, Mr Richardson said that Portrush Town Hall was ‘one of the better used properties’ in the Borough, he revealed that around 16,000 people used it each year.