The cost of refurbishing Midsomer Norton Town Hall could cost as much as £1.56m, the council has warned.

Councillor Martyn Plant, the mayor of the town, has spoken of his “disappointment” that the project has not been completed within schedule with a lot of work still left to complete.

The town council was briefed on the refurbishment project at a meeting on Monday, September 2. Steve Hunt, of Greenwoods Projects, which is responsible for managing the project on behalf of the town council, presented a progress report to councillors and members of the public present at the meeting.

The council was informed that the target project end date was now mid-January 2025 and that the cost of the refurbishment might now reach as much as £1.56m.

It was acknowledged that the project continues to be delayed and that all parties are frustrated by this, the council said in a statement to the press.

However, all parties involved are keen to work together to reach a satisfactory conclusion as quickly as possible in order that the facility can be made available to the town, the council added.

Delays have been caused through a number of factors, many of which are not unsurprising bearing in mind the listed status and age of the building, it said.

Most of the major construction and rebuild works have now been completed which will allow many of the internal fit out works to be conducted quickly and in unison.

The council believes progress will indeed be achieved over the next couple of months.

Councillor Martyn Plant said “I am disappointed and regret that the town hall project has not been completed on time and that there is still much work to do.

“I am, however, encouraged by the latest report presented to us which looks to have addressed the major issues that have caused the delay.

“I am confident that the town council and its partners are now working hard and with purpose to deliver the town hall back to the public early in the New Year.”

Midsomer Norton Town Council states on its website that the town hall was built in 1859. It is also used by a number of local organisations.

A complete transformation of the building is proposed, to reinstate the original ground floor market hall, construct a rear extension and improve community meeting rooms, storage, and service rooms.