VICTORIAN-style gates costing £2,100 are to be installed at Market Hill Rooms in Royston. But town councillor Robert Smith told Royston Town Council s Finance committee on Monday evening that he hoped this would be an end to the drip of money being spen

VICTORIAN-style gates costing £2,100 are to be installed at Market Hill Rooms in Royston.

But town councillor Robert Smith told Royston Town Council's Finance committee on Monday evening that he hoped this would be an end to the "drip" of money being spent on the premises.

The Market Hill Rooms were recently renovated at a cost of £100,000.

The cost of the work came from the town council's sale of a site at Stamford Yard which has since been re-developed.

More than £206,000 remains in the town council's "kitty" from the land deal.

Committee chairman Councillor Lynn Berry said she hoped it would be the end of spending on the Market Hill Rooms.

Councillor Lindsay Davidson said: "We have to do this properly and we don't want to be seen as cheapskates.

"We want more people to use Market Hill Rooms and they expect a high standard."

The committee gave the go-ahead for the installation of the gates which it believes will act as a safety barrier and as a deterrent to youngsters gathering under a sheltered part of the building during the evenings.

- The committee also approved a request from the Royston Town Forum to use an outside wall at the premises to display a banner for markets and other events during the year.

It is understood that North Herts District Council has raised concerns about banners being placed on railings in the market place.