Work on redeveloping Maesteg town hall has been delayed once again, with a time for completion now pushed back to 2023. The multi-million-pound project, which cost around £7.9m, was initially scheduled to be completed last spring before delays had pushed it back to the summer.
However, after what was described as additional delays due to the pandemic, the project will now be delayed further until 2023, though no exact date has yet been announced. When speaking of the development a Bridgend Council spokesperson said while the project was progressing well, delays had been unavoidable due to the pandemic as well as additional repairs that needed to be carried out.
They said: "The Maesteg Town Hall re-development project is progressing well, with completion of an array of key elements and more recently the commencement of the new build extension fronting Talbot Street. However, the overall project has unavoidably been delayed primarily due to the pandemic, but also due to discovery items such as the clock tower repairs, ground contamination, and further roof works and internal conservation work required to safeguard this iconic 141-year-old Grade II Listed building."
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While there is no official date for the completion of the work, the well-known clock tower which needed extensive repair has recently been completed, with the scaffolding dropped so that the hall’s most identifiable feature is once again visible.
When fully finished there will also be a new glass extension added to the building, with improvements made to the inside, which include improved access with a new staircase and accessible lift. Attention to detail has also been taken with preserving the Hall’s heritage features, such as the brick archways, tiling, and cornicing and columns.
Councillor Neelo Farr, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "It is fantastic to see work progressing on the redevelopment of Maesteg Town Hall and I am pleased to hear that it is set to be enjoyed by the community when it re-opens, with events already being booked in 2023.
"As the brand-new atrium structure begins to take place, the vision of what will be an all-new community and cultural space for local people is starting to come together. This historic Grade II-listed building is set to remain as a pillar of the community in the heart of Maesteg, with brand new accessible and inclusive facilities for everybody to enjoy."
While Maesteg Town Councillor Leighton Thomas said there was a great deal of excitement around the building, once described as the cultural heartbeat of the Llynfi Valley, he also recognised that there were some frustrations at the delays as well.
He said: "I often walk around the town and speak to the people here in Maesteg and everyone has this real sense of excitement and anticipation for the Town Hall to open. It will be great for the town, and now as people can see the work progressing and the building taking shape they really can't wait for it. With the unavoidable delays caused by the pandemic and a shortage of materials there is of course a bit of frustration that it's gone on longer than expected, but overall the people here are very supportive." You can read more of our stories from Maesteg here.
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