£12m rebuilding plan to streamline council offices

Keynsham Town Hall is to be rebuilt in a £12 million project to streamline district council offices.

The 1960s council building, which incorporates Keynsham Library, is to be demolished along with the rank of shops which face the clocktower square.

Bath and North East Somerset Council's ruling cabinet agreed to the proposal at a meeting held in the town hall.

Councillor Tony Crouch said the rebuilding of the town centre would be a catalyst for the regeneration of Keynsham.

He said: "Beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder and this building has not won any awards. This will be a shot in the arm that is long overdue for Keynsham."

Shopkeepers have been told of the plans and new shops will form part of the rebuilding.

Dr Peter Roberts, chairman of Keynsham Heritage Trust, said: "The rebuilding of the civic centre presents a unique opportunity to do something positive for Keynsham.

"If handled correctly it will go a long way to restoring a sense of civic pride."

It is envisaged that the new town hall will have a glass atrium area to display historic artefacts including a Roman mosaic unearthed in Keynsham.

A number of council office leases come to an end next year and B&NES reviewed the amount of space it needs for employees.

It was found that half the office space is empty at any given time and so three buildings will be given up, saving £780,000 a year.

The Guildhall in Bath will be retained as the council's headquarters along with Lewis House and Northgate offices in the city. The Hollies in Midsomer Norton will also be kept.

The rebuilding of Keynsham Town Hall and refitting the remaining offices will cost £12,379,648.

Developers will be appointed in August next year and a planning application will be submitted in November.