THE Laverton is set to undergo refurbishment work in order to keep the grade II listed building in good condition. The cost of this refurbishment could rise to more than £85,000 but Westbury Town Council says that they are actively seeking grant funding in order to keep the costs down.
The Laverton is an historic building that has served the people of Westbury for 150 years. Built for the community by Abraham Laverton at a cost of £4,000 in 1873 – the equivalent of over £550,000 in today’s money – it has been in constant use ever since and is home to Westbury Town Council.
The Laverton serves as a hub for local organisations and clubs. It offers them a space to conduct their meetings, workshops, and group activities, serves as a focal point for community activities, provides a venue for local organisations and clubs, supports educational initiatives and promotes charitable initiatives.
Maintenance work that needs to be completed includes repairing the guttering, replacing flat roofs, tiles and fascia boards and painting exterior features.
The town council says, “The addition of new secondary glazing will also improve energy efficiency in line with Westbury Town Council’s declaration of a climate emergency. Our grants officer is actively seeking grant funding towards the repairs and has already been successful in obtaining £4,500 from Westbury Area Board. The total cost of the refurbishment is estimated at over £85,000.”
At a recent meeting, the town council also approved a slight increase in hire prices to help fund the repairs and to cover some of the escalating costs.
Mayor, cllr Mike Sutton explained, “An increase of some 15% still offers excellent value for money and will also help us fund the much-needed refurbishment of this lovely building. In summary, Westbury Town Council want to keep the Laverton in a good state of repair as an investment for the future of Westbury, and to keep the running costs as low as possible which will help us attain our target of being carbon neutral by 2030. Future generations of Westbury are our main priority.”
The Laverton has a charitable status and Westbury Town Council has been the sole trustee of the building since 2003. Various rooms at the Laverton are available to hire out for events – for more information visit www.thelaverton.co.uk
