THE cost of installing a lift in Royston Town Hall is to be examined. Members of the finance committee are looking at submitting a bid to the Lottery to help meet the costs of £25,000. The need for a lift in the town hall has been a talking point for many

THE cost of installing a lift in Royston Town Hall is to be examined.

Members of the finance committee are looking at submitting a bid to the Lottery to help meet the costs of £25,000.

The need for a lift in the town hall has been a talking point for many years.

But now, with Lottery cash available, councillors believe that a bid could help in setting up the project.

The idea would be to probably erect a lift shaft on the outside of the building.

At the moment people with disablities or in wheelchairs have difficulty reaching events in the upper hall.

The lack of a lift has been raised by the public over recent years at the town council's annual town meeting.

Although the need for a lift is recognised, councillors are also aware the the town hall site is earmarked for some kind of development under the town centre strategy proposals.

But it could be more than a decade until the site is developed, and the future of the town hall building is decided.

A ramp costing £400 is likely to be installed in the town hall for people with disabilities to use the ground-floor toilets.

Almost £1,500 is to be spent on providing chairs and other equipment for the town council-owned Market Hill Rooms.

The town council was hoping that cash could come from a Lottery bid, but this was turned down.

Town clerk Susan Thornton-Bjork told members: "There were more applications for a particular fund than money available."

The town council will now pay for the equipment from a budget earmarked for community use.