THE first steps towards restoring the Grade II listed Earlestown Town Hall building back to its former glory have started.

The town hall will undergo works to demolish two annex buildings this week with builders clearing a section of the Market Street site. Further works will happen in the coming months to remove the caretakers house also part of the building

The annex buildings were added in the 1960s as an extension to the main building but are now in poor condition and not in keeping with the town hall’s architectural form and detract from the original building’s façade.

St Helens Star:

Cllr Groucutt with council leader David Baines and Cllr Richard McCauley, cabinet member for regeneration and housing outside the annex set for demolition

The move comes as plans are being progressed to reopen the building to the public once again.

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Cllr Kate Groucutt, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Estates and Communications, said: “We know that the community in Newton-le-Willows is proud of the town’s heritage and wants to see historic buildings preserved for future generations.

"Earlestown Town Hall is a beautiful building with a rich legacy and we want to see it become the heart of the community once again. We are working on plans to bring this building back into use and make it sustainable for the future, and using the valuable information from those who took part in consultation events earlier this year.

"These works to the external fabric of the building are the first steps to returning the building to its former glory.”