Forres Town Hall custodians Forres Area Community Trust need funding to make revamp the building
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A CROWDFUNDING campaign for improvements to a historic town centre building has been extended for another month.
Forres Town Hall custodians Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) are trying to raise £20,000 for additional repairs to the structure - revealed during the first phase of a £5million redevelopment project.
Development Manager Michelle Gillibrand confirmed the work started in January but had to pause when it was discovered that additional works were required to replace a window beam at the front of the building and mend supporting structures.
She explained: "It was expected that some work would be needed due to dry rot in the supporting beam over the windows, however, the length of the beam wasn’t anticipated. This had to be replaced.”
Contractor Laing Traditional Masonry (LTM) discovered the required additional repair work during the first phase of the town hall's redevelopment.
"LTM had to open up the stairwell to investigate the extent of the dry rot,” said Michelle. “This is when they found out that the beam stretched along the entire width of the building. We would have expected at least two appropriately supported beams."
The work to replace the beam has been done in sections. During this, LTM also found out that the timber supporting the beam had significantly moved meaning the beam had not been adequately supported.
"There is however no immediate danger," assured Michelle. "The beam was being elevated by some of the supporting timber and the remaining weight was supported along the length.
"However, this had to be rectified to prevent any future movement."
FACT have been advised that the reason for the movement is likely to be due to the construction methods of 200 years ago. Supporting timbers were often not cemented so over time can move.
Michelle said: "Our surveys, although thorough, always had the the caveat that other things may be found once walls, floors and roofs were exposed."
Required repair work involves adjusting the top of the timber and cementing in the base.
Michelle finished: "The extra work has involved more structural engineering input, materials, labour and time. Our contingency sum will cover a chunk of these additional works but not all, hence the crowdfunding campaign which we hope will help us ensure the sustainability of the town hall."
FACT have already raised £500,000 for the wider project which has included funding from the Scottish Government through the HIE Green Grant, the UK Government’s Communities Ownership Fund, Moray Local Action Group and the Scottish Landfill Fund.
To make a contribution, and for more information, visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/forres-town-hall-needs-your-help or contact FACT at info@forresarea.org
