Town hall rebuild cost 'beggars belief' as price estimate doubles

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The latest estimated cost to repair Ashton Town Hall “beggars belief” after it was revealed it has more than doubled in cost, a meeting heard.

The cost for building works is now estimated to be around £8m - more than two times the original estimate of £3.4m in 2020. Coun Doreen Dickinson, leader of the Conservative group, slammed council bosses for their spending of public money, questioning why so much time has gone on without work being done.

An executive cabinet report stated this increased cost was due to extremely high levels of construction cost inflation between 2020 and 2023, further deterioration in the overall condition of the building, scaffolding and tenting, as well as additional stonework and timber work. READ MORE: Calls for council boss to step down amid chaotic meeting Coun Dickinson told the latest town hall meeting: “With Ashton town hall, five years ago, the works were £3.4m and the recommendation saying the works would limit any further deterioration.

Five years later, with no works carried out, we are now being told that £3.4m will only cover basics and the full cost is estimated at £8m. “The report says the cost increase is due to extremely high levels of construction costs inflation between 2020 and 2023.